OTTAWA – A court employee working at the LaSalle County Downtown Courthouse has tested positive for COVID-19. In a release on Thursday, Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan announced that they have consulted with the LaSalle County Health Department for guidance on what should be done. The Court notified personnel based on exposure risk, and those with close contact with the individual are self-quarantining and will seek testing. They also note that all spaces the employee occupied have been cleaned. The Court will continue to enforce mask wearing and social distancing when in the building. The courts at the downtown courthouse are taking measures to reduce in person hearings for non-emergency matters and will be conducting remote hearings when possible.