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SPRINGFIELD (WSIL) – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) says 20 counties in the state are now on “alert level” for COVID-19.
According to the IDPH, a county enters an alert level when it experiences an increase in two or more risk indicators in the state’s COVID-19 resurgence mitigation plan.
The 20 counties at an alert level on Friday were:
- office
- Cass
- Clay
- Clinton
- Franklin
- Greene
- Grundy
- Hancock
- Henderson
- Jefferson
- Logan
- Madison
- Monroe
- Moultrie
- Randolph
- St. Clair
- union
- White
- Will
- Williamson
This is the second week in a row that Franklin and Jefferson counties have been on the HDI Alert Level List. This is the third week in a row for Union County.
“These counties have seen cases or outbreaks associated with weddings, businesses, neighborhood gatherings, parties, long-term care facilities and other gathering places, trips to neighboring states, bars, sports camps and have spread among members of the same household who do not isolate themselves. Cases related to schools are also starting to be reported.
Public health officials are watching people who do not have social distancing or who do not use masks. In addition, there are reports of sick individuals attributing their symptoms to allergies or other illnesses, or not reporting their symptoms or close contacts, ”a public health ministry statement said on Friday. from Illinois.
The IDPH uses several factors to decide if a county has stable COVID-19 activity or if there are warning signs of increased risk.
• New cases per 100,000 inhabitants. If there are more than 50 new cases per 100,000 people in the county, that triggers a warning.
• Number of deaths. This metric indicates a warning when the weekly number of deaths increases by more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
• Weekly positivity test. This metric indicates a warning when the 7-day test positivity rate exceeds 8%.
• ICU availability. If there are less than 20% available intensive care units in the area, it triggers a warning.
• Weekly emergency room visits. This metric indicates a warning when the weekly percentage of COVID-19 emergency room visits increases by more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
• Weekly hospital admissions. A warning is triggered when the weekly number of hospitalizations for a COVID-19-type illness increases by more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
• The tests are executed. This metric is used to provide context and indicate if further testing is needed in the county.
• Clusters. This metric examines the percentage of COVID-19 cases associated with clusters or outbreaks and is used to understand a sharp increase in cases.
A map and status information for each county is available on the IDPH website at dph.illinois.gov/countymetrics.
The IDPH announced 2,208 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, including 24 additional confirmed deaths.
Currently, the IDPH reports a total of 215,929 cases, including 7,857 deaths, in Illinois.
The statewide preliminary seven-day positivity for cases from Aug. 14 to Aug. 20 is 4.3%.
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