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 Twenty counties are currently reported at a
warning level – Bureau, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Franklin, Greene,
Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Jefferson, Logan, Madison,
Monroe, Moultrie, Randolph, St. Clair, Union, White, Will, and
Williamson.
These counties saw cases or outbreaks associated with weddings,
businesses, neighborhood gatherings, parties, long-term care
facilities and other congregate settings, travel to neighboring
states, bars, sports camps, and spread among members of the same
household who are not isolating at home. Cases connected to schools
are also beginning to be reported.
Public health officials are observing people not social distancing
or using face coverings. Additionally, there are reports of
individuals who are ill attributing their symptoms to allergies or
other illnesses, or not being forthcoming about their symptoms or
close contacts.
Several counties are taking swift action and implementing mitigation
measures to help slow spread of the virus, including working to
increase testing in their communities and launching mask campaigns
such as “Masks on Faces Keeps Places Open.”
IDPH uses numerous indicators when determining if a county is
experiencing stable COVID-19 activity, or if there are warning signs
of increased COVID-19 risk in the county.
• New cases per 100,000 people. If there are more than 50 new cases
per 100,000 people in the county, this triggers a warning.
• Number of deaths. This metric indicates a warning when the weekly
number of deaths increases more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
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• Weekly test positivity. This metric indicates a
warning when the 7-day test positivity rate rises above 8%.
• ICU availability. If there are fewer than 20% of intensive care
units available in the region, this triggers a warning.
• Weekly emergency department visits. This metric
indicates a warning when the weekly percent of COVID-19-like-illness
emergency department visits increase by more than 20% for two
consecutive weeks.
• Weekly hospital admissions. A warning is triggered when the weekly
number of hospital admissions for COVID-19-like-illness increases by
more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
• Tests perform. This metric is used to provide context and indicate
if more testing is needed in the county.
• Clusters. This metric looks at the percent of COVID-19 cases
associated with clusters or outbreaks and is used to understand
large increase in cases.
These metrics are intended to be used for local level awareness to
help local leaders, businesses, local health departments, and the
public make informed decisions about personal and family gatherings,
as well as what activities they choose to do. The metrics are
updated weekly, from the Sunday-Saturday of the prior week.
A map and information of each county’s status can be found on the
IDPH website at
https://www.dph.illinois.gov/county
metrics.
[Text from file received from
]
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