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30 counties now on IDPH watch list, including Cook, Effingham and Sangamon

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Illinois

* Press release…

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 30 counties in Illinois are considered to be at a warning level for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). A county enters a warning level when two or more COVID-19 risk indicators that measure the amount of COVID-19 increase.

Thirty counties are currently reported at a warning level – Bureau, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Cook, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, Greene, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Jasper, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Madison, Monroe, Morgan, Perry, Pike, Randolph, Sangamon, Shelby, St. Clair, Union, Warren, White, Will, and Williamson.

Although the reasons for counties reaching a warning level varies, some of the common factors for an increase in cases and outbreaks are associated with weddings, large gatherings, long-term care facilities and other congregate settings, travel to neighboring states, bars, and spread among members of the same household who are not isolating at home. Cases connected to schools are beginning to be reported. General transmission of the virus in the community is also increasing.

Public health officials are observing people not social distancing, gathering in large groups, and not using face coverings. In some counties, local law enforcement and states’ attorneys are not enforcing important mitigation measures like social distancing and the wearing of face coverings.

Several counties are taking swift action and implementing mitigation measures to help slow spread of the virus, including increasing testing opportunities, working with schools, meeting with local leaders, and educating businesses and large venues about the importance of mitigation measures.

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. A county is considered at the warning level when at least two of the following metrics triggers a warning.

• 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.
• 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.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 28, 20 @ 12:38 pm

Comments

I’m surprised to see McLean county isn’t on there yet. It has to be coming soon.

Comment by tea_and_honey Friday, Aug 28, 20 @ 12:56 pm
As a state,we are going in the wrong direction for warning levels. Maybe we should see what DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties are doing to help stop the spread of this virus.

Comment by pool boy Friday, Aug 28, 20 @ 1:07 pm
Who is surprised here. If you look at the Illinois Times calendar for Sangamon County events, you will see listing for live music at various bars around town. The Mason City Limits Comedy Club has acts performing, too. You know they are all about social distancing and mask wearing.

Comment by Xeno Friday, Aug 28, 20 @ 1:45 pm
Much of this was avoidable if everyone, or even most, would’ve just played by the rules. If a novel virus can’t get folks on the same page I don’t hold out much hope for the future.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, Aug 28, 20 @ 1:57 pm
1. How is Coles County avoiding inclusion on this list? If you look at the IDPH map, it looks even worse than Effingham.

2. Cumberland, Jasper, Fayette, Shelby? What percentage of people in these counties go to Effingham County for work, shopping, medical, or family events? (Answer: a lot)

Comment by Lynn S. Friday, Aug 28, 20 @ 3:34 pm
Interesting, Champaign is not on that list, and consider all the testing Uof I is doing and students back at school. It could climb in the next few weeks, but will be interesting to see what happens there. Unless their numbers aren’t included. Truly some of those counties, 1 wedding with lots of cousins on the farm could put them over the limit. there’s not a lot of people in some of those places.

Comment by frustrated GOP Friday, Aug 28, 20 @ 3:51 pm
@frustrated: The UIUC numbers are included in the Champaign County numbers. They’re finding cases, but because they’re testing everyone, it’s driving the positivity rate into the floor. The students are a mostly young and healthy population, so the percentage of cases resulting in ER visits, hospitalization or ICU usage will be lower than the average. There are two large regional hospitals, so capacity is not a problem at this point. And to your last point, with a population of 205,000 it takes over 100 new cases to trip that warning limit. UIUC is doing the equivalent of testing every person in Effingham County twice a week, so the numbers are really apples and oranges. Things in Champaign County outside the university are probably worse than the aggregate county numbers suggest, although most people here do seem to be exercising personal responsibility in terms of masks and gatherings. Based on what I’m hearing from friends in the southern tip, I’m surprised that things down there aren’t even worse.

Comment by CEA Friday, Aug 28, 20 @ 4:28 pm