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 Eleven counties are currently at a warning level –
Cass, Gallatin, Jackson, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Perry, Randolph,
Saline, Sangamon, St. Clair, and White.
These counties saw outbreaks associated with business operations and
activities posing higher risk for disease spread, including school
graduation ceremonies, a rise in cases among late teens and 20s,
parties and social gatherings, people going to bars, long-term care
outbreaks, clusters of cases associated with restaurants and
churches, and big sports events including soccer, golf, and softball
tournaments. Residents of many communities are not wearing face
coverings that have been proven to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Public health officials are finding that most contacts to cases are
testing positive as well.
Several counties are taking swift action and implementing mitigation
measures to help slow the spread of the virus. Examples include the
mayor of Springfield requiring bar employees to wear masks or be
subject to fines, Perry County hospitals and nursing homes
temporarily suspending visitors, and the state’s attorney in Jackson
County allowing the local food ordinance to be used to enforce
COVID-19 guidance at restaurants and bars.
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, with data 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/countymetrics.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information]
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