20 counties on notice for COVID
State tops 215,000 cases with 2,208 new Friday, along with 24 deaths
Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike speaks at a coronavirus briefing earlier this week, when she said, “I’m concerned that we’ve grown numb to the numbers.” (Illinois.gov)
By Ted Cox
Twenty Illinois counties were issued official warnings on the spread of COVID-19 Friday — almost a fifth of the state and a new high since the Department of Public Health began issuing the notices a month ago.
The news came as the department confirmed 2,208 new cases of the coronavirus, taking the state total to 215,929 in the pandemic. Twenty-four new deaths brought the statewide toll to 7,857.
The 20 counties issued formal warnings Friday for rising infections included Bureau, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Jefferson, Logan, Madison, Monroe, Moultrie, Randolph, St. Clair, Union, White, Will, and Williamson. That was up from 14 a week ago. The newly added counties on the warning list included Clay, Henderson, Logan, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair, Union, White, and Williamson. Kane, LaSalle, and Perry counties dropped off the list.
“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,” the department stated in a news release. “Cases connected to schools are also beginning to be reported.
“Public health officials are observing people not social distancing or using face coverings,” the release added. “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.”
The department did report 51,000 tests conducted statewide, after first cracking the 50,000 mark on Wednesday, when Gov. Pritzker announced federal approval for a new saliva-based test developed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. That left the seven-day positivity rate at 4.3 percent, up from 4.1 percent a week ago.
On Sunday, the state renewed some mitigation restrictions on the Metro East region across the Mississippi River from St. Louis after the positivity rate topped 8 percent three days in a row, and Pritzker reported on Wednesday that the rate had risen to 9.4 percent
Even so, Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike warned Wednesday, “I’m concerned that we’ve grown numb to the numbers.” Ezike, Pritzker, and other state health officials continue to warn residents to observe the three W’s: wear a mask, wash hands, and watch social distancing.