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Cook County among 30 counties now at COVID-19 warning level

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported on Friday, Aug. 28, that 30 counties in Illinois are considered to be at a warning level for the COVID-19 virus.  

A county enters a warning level when two or more COVID-19 risk indicators that measure the amount of COVID-19 increase.

The 30 counties are 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.

Regions 4 and 7 that include nine counties, were placed under stricter mitigation guidelines recently after crossing thresholds for COVID-19 infections. Region 4 includes seven counties adjacent to St. Louis, and Region 7 includes Will and Kankakee counties.

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.

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 percent for two consecutive weeks.
  • Weekly test positivity. This metric indicates a warning when the seven-day test positivity rate rises above 8 percent.
  • ICU availability. If there are fewer than 20 percent 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 percent 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 percent for two consecutive weeks.
  • Tests performThis 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 Sunday to 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.

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