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Get it together, Region 6

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Illinois

* We discussed this as part of a broader topic yesterday, but let’s zero in on it today. Tribune…

The central Illinois region around Champaign-Urbana could be hit with stricter restrictions on restaurants, bars and other businesses as the percentage of positive coronavirus tests is on the rise, state public officials warned on Wednesday.

The massive saliva-based testing program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign can account for roughly 20% of all tests conducted statewide in a given day, giving the 21-county region a deceptively low positivity rate, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The region’s positivity rate stands at 2% on a seven-day average, but when Champaign County is removed, the rate jumps to 7.2%, approaching the 8% threshold that could trigger stricter rules to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, officials said. […]

The Department of Public Health will being to separate out Champaign County from the rest of the region, which also includes Decatur and Danville, in determining whether to institute stricter rules. However, if those rules are put into effect, they would apply to Champaign County as well.

* County numbers…

Champaign 1.2
Clark 1.9
Clay 8.2
Coles 8.5
Crawford 13.7
Cumberland 7.9
De Witt 9.3
Douglas 5.8
Edgar 1
Effingham 7.2
Fayette 14.1
Ford 2.4
Iroquois 3.7
Jasper 7.9
Lawrence 4.1
Macon 6.7
Moultrie 3.7
Piatt 2.7
Richland 8.8
Shelby 8.1
Vermilion 7.8

Such a surprise to see Clay County above 8.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 10:07 am

Comments

Crawford County is dealing with a big outbreak from the Correctional Center. Outside of that outbreak, the rate is comparable to the rest of the region (still not good, but better than the 13%).

Comment by feastinguponbullocks Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 10:13 am
Clay - You Reap what You Sow

Comment by Red Ketcher Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 10:15 am
I’m not a scientist or a doctor, but I would love someone who is to explain how the cases in Effingham continue to be so high with only 1 death (last time I checked). They appear to have more cases than all the surrounding counties, but deaths have been so much lower. I’m just genuinely curious how that might be explained.

Comment by Ugh Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 10:18 am
I’m more dismayed to find out that Champaign County is part of the Eastern Bloc.

Comment by Simple Simon Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 10:19 am
They are doing the same testing on NIU students. More than likely all major universities are doing some sort of testing.

Comment by JustaThought Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 10:21 am
Ugh… I think Effingham County has been successful and/or lucky keeping COVID out of the area nursing homes and congregate settings. I believe that is why the number of deaths are low.

Comment by Effingham Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 10:26 am
===They are doing the same testing on NIU students===

Last I checked, NIU students were responsible for getting their own tests.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 10:26 am
Am I reading this correctly that the Governor intends to “cherrypick” the statistics and areas in deciding when mitigation measures will be implemented? Or, the administration is moving the goal posts again in determining when to implement those measures?

Comment by OOO Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 10:29 am
@Ugh - There are 3 deaths in Effingham County since Saturday that are under investigation for COVID.

Comment by MaryHeart Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 10:30 am
- Am I reading this correctly -

No. It’s simple math, just not simple enough for you apparently.

Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 10:35 am
OOO-

Don’t look now, but Pritzker is also “cherry picking” what NFL teams are playing on Sunday.

Will the heavy handedness of this administration ever end?????

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 10:38 am
= Am I reading this correctly that the Governor intends to “cherrypick” the statistics and areas in deciding when mitigation measures will be implemented?==

No you are ignoring the paragraph that explains why you have to take U of I testing out to see what is happening without tearing the same group of people twice a week. This was discussed yesterday. U of I students are more or less in a bubble in Champaign county. They are associated Mainly with each other and therefore more likely to not get exposed to other people. So testing them over and over is finding a highly negative result. That’s not reflective of the rest of the area.

Comment by thoughts matter Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 10:39 am
Should IDPH do the same thing for Sangamon County in Region 3 due to the UIS testing? In case they’re getting U of I’s tests too.

Comment by Chatham Resident Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 10:45 am
The Dewitt/Piatt health department head says Dewitt County is high because not enough are being tested. He’s done a considerable turn-around since March–”‘Unwarranted’ is how Remmert describes the pandemonium the virus has created. . .He says we should live our lives as we normally would.” Dewitt County–it’s here.

Comment by StixHix Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 10:48 am
thoughts matter

So, the Governor is moving the goal posts. Thanks for clearing that up.

Comment by OOO Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 11:00 am
In looking at EIU’s website (Charleston in Coles County) . . . new tests conducted between 9/20 - 9/26 was 181 tests. Number of tests returning positive results during that same time = 38. That means that 21% of those tested during that time had a positive test result. Praying that people practice social distancing, wearing of masks, washing of hands. Not looking good for Coles County and rest of Region 6 right now.

Comment by Cardinal Fan Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 11:41 am
==Last I checked, NIU students were responsible for getting their own tests.==

Students who live in the dorms pay a fee to be able to go to the Student Health Center (which is run by Northwestern) for a swab if they have symptoms. Also NIU is doing daily mandatory “surveillance testing” in the Health Center of 125 students who live in the dorms and/or are attending in-person classes.

That leaves commuting students who attend in-person classes who are not called for the mandatory random testing and the staff who have to get their tests on their own.

Piece of good news is having all undergrad classes go remote for two weeks has brought infection rates that had been in double digits down to 3 cases yesterday.

Comment by yinn Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 11:55 am
A significant number of Coles County residents do not take seriously the need for social distancing, mask wear, or isolation when diagnosed. I see it with my own eyes, and it is frustrating. A number of residents want to blame this on the influx of EIU students, but frankly, the blame lies squarely on the residents who ignore the precautions long before the students returned and the lack of leadership and/or resources to effect change.

Comment by Morningstar Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 11:55 am
Link to details of NIU’s mandatory “surveillance” testing (Daily Chronicle): https://tinyurl.com/y4z9fsyt

Comment by yinn Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 11:58 am
Yep, yinn

My daughter got selected last week. NIU has been doing these random test since right after labor day, I think..

Comment by 618er Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 12:06 pm
Rich, the students at NIU are receiving mandatory testing emails. The expense for the tests are being paid for by the university.

Comment by JustaThought Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 12:19 pm
125 tests/day at NIU isn’t swinging the regions positivity rate like UIUC is

Comment by Stu Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 12:26 pm
JBs admin isn’t being consistent. They’re refusing to carve out St. Clair from rest of MetroEast region which would allow St. Clair to get out from under restrictions but wants to carve out Champaign to institute restrictions in the region. Either you carve or don’t otherwise it just looks arbitrary and capricious gov.

Comment by Roy Bean Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 1:24 pm
=== otherwise it just looks arbitrary and capricious===

Only to those who don’t read or reason. Do you really not know why these examples are different?

Comment by Simple Simon Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 2:11 pm
We’ve already had business close for good thanks to the first set of restrictions. I guess that doesn’t matter to the governor…good to know that something with a 96% recovery rate (according to IDPH own statistics) justifies devastating local economies.

Comment by Leave Us Alone Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 2:28 pm
===justifies devastating local economies.===

I bet you don’t wear a mask, either. Wear a mask to keep businesses open.

Comment by Simple Simon Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 2:32 pm
@Simple Simon
Actually I do. In fact, I see more people here in Decatur wearing them than I see not wearing them. If we’re going to play the assumption game though I’m going to assume that the governor wants to keep this going as long as possible so he can be the “Savior of Illinois” come election time. Meanwhile local businesses have been forced to closed.

Comment by Leave Us Alone Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 2:36 pm
Why is the testing developed by the U of I not available throughout the region, or even the State?

Vermilion County, for example, continues to have to drive to Champaign (75 plus mile round trip from Danville) if they want to get results in 48 hours. Otherwise, results are not known for 5-7 days. That simply won’t work for first responders, schools, et. al.

This is October for goodness sakes.

Comment by This Just In Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 2:40 pm
===…good to know that something with a 96% recovery rate (according to IDPH own statistics) justifies devastating local economies.===

You’re willing to sacrifice your family as the 4% that don’t recover for the rest of us?

Yikes, how pathetic, you thinking 4% is a price that should be paid so you can eat at Appleby’s.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 2:41 pm
===I’m going to assume that the governor wants to keep this going as long as possible===

That’s on you. I’ve noticed that people’s politics seem to control their conclusions whether evidence exists or not. Personally, I see lots of folks in Region 6 without masks, especially in restaurants and bars but even some in stores. It doesn’t take that many covidiots to spread it.

Comment by Simple Simon Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 2:43 pm
@Leave Us Alone:

“According to an SBA Office of Advocacy survey on only half of all small businesses survive more than five years and about 10-12 percent of all employee-based firms close each year.”
Source SBA: https://tinyurl.com/yyb4styu

As painful as it is, businesses close constantly and regularly every year. I acknowledge this is a difficult time for everyone. But the people who own or are employed by these businesses are still able to move on with their lives. Covid-19 is a deadly disease. The 4% who don’t survive are not here to carry on. They will not be here to celebrate a child’s birthday or first steps, a child’s marriage or graduation. They will not be here to celebrate holidays with family or friends. People are more important than money. Sincerely, Steve

Comment by Steve Polite Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 3:45 pm
=== As for me I’ll take dangerous liberty over safety and security any day.===

You’re not a hero or a patriot

You’re an utter fool thinking people should die so your favorite tavern stays open

That’s even more pathetic, you think this is heroic.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 3:50 pm
=== the government tell them what to do===

Is a global pandemic, are you daft? The virus is shutting down businesses, not government.

This idea you think you’re a macho hero, you pick a loved one to infect, will that make *you* a hero to them?

=== Why do the rest of us and our local places have to suffer for a 4% mortality rate…?===

Yeah, I’ll stop you there. Right there.

It’s the Covidiots like you that are infections our family, friends, people we don’t know.

“Freedom” to die… friend… you are saying “freedom so you can die for me”

So foolish.to think your actions don’t effect others.

I’m going for a run.

Feel free to comment again about the freedom for others to die for your $3 beer specials.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 3:59 pm
@Leave Us Alone:

So you believe a government should have absolutely no right to respond to a pandemic?

It’s people like you who have made this pandemic worse than it needed to be. You are part of the problem. The selfishness you and other Covid deniers have shown throughout this whole ordeal is just unbelievable.

One of the central roles of government is to protect the general welfare of the public. That is exactly what government is doing. But heaven forbid you can’t go out to eat.

You need to grow up.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 4:13 pm
===As for me I’ll take dangerous liberty over safety and security any day.===

This is a false choice. Let’s have both liberty and safety. Wear a mask and eat your McRib outdoors at a proper distance.

Comment by Simple Simon Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 4:20 pm
I will not comply

Comment by anon Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 5:57 pm
Forget E pluribus unum. Anon’s new motto is Omnia mihi.

Comment by Simple Simon Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 6:47 pm
Roy Bean, the only thing IDPH is excluding is Champaign County in the positivity rate. If mitigation kicks in, Champaign County will be included.
https://www.dph.illinois.gov/news/public-health-officials-announce-2273-new-confirmed-cases-coronavirus-disease

Comment by MyTwoCents Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 7:39 pm
Wowwwwwww do some people in this comment section not understand how percentages work.

Comment by Suburban Mom Thursday, Oct 1, 20 @ 8:15 pm
Such a flippant end sentence causes me to wonder about the author’s grasp of non-political science concerns.

Comment by PK Monday, Oct 5, 20 @ 8:39 am