3 years, 5 months ago by Scott Hardy
3rd straight day above 8% per cent positivity rate triggers state action
The COVID-19 region that includes West-Central Illinois and Springfield has seen a third straight day where the positivity rate is above the state's recommended level, and mitigation measures start Sunday.
Thursday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported that on Monday, Region 3's 7-day rolling average daily positivity rate was at 8.8 per cent. That's up from Sunday's 8.1 per cent. Under the Department's rules, 3 straight days of an 8 per cent or higher positivity trigger mitigation measures. And that's what Governor J. B. Pritzker and the IDPH announced Thursday afternoon. In a statement, IDPH said that Region 3 is experiencing triple the amount of COVID-related hospital admissions since early September. The measures for West-Central Illinois and other parts of the state include no indoor bar or restaurant service, and all outside bar and restaurant service will close at 11 PM. Casinos will also close at 11 PM. Meetings and social events will be limited to either 25 guests, or 25 per cent room capacity. IDPH says that if the positivity rate averages 8 per cent or greater for two weeks during mitigation, stricter measures may be applied to further reduce the spread of the virus. Other regions of the state have also seen those same measures imposed, including the Metro East area just outside St. Louis, Chicago and suburban Cook County, and the counties just north of Chicago.
As of Sunday, nine of the state’s 11 regions for measuring COVID-19 will be under mitigation rules.
