Summer during the pandemic: A cyclist wearing a mask rides along the 606 trail in Chicago. (WTTW News)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has announced new mitigation efforts in the Metro East region of the state, where the positivity rate for COVID-19 has been at or above 8% for three consecutive days.
Starting Tuesday, new restrictions aimed at combating the resurgence of the virus and curbing its spread will take effect at bars, restaurants, casinos and other gathering places in the region, which is located in the southeastern part of the state.
“If the data shows we need to go backwards in our reopening, I won’t hesitate to tighten restrictions to protect our collective health,” Pritzker said in a statement Sunday afternoon.
The Illinois Department of Public Health will monitor the region to determine whether restrictions can be relaxed or need to be expanded, according to the governor’s office.
Daily medical update
Health officials reported another 1,562 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, and 18 additional deaths — half of them Cook County residents.
Among them was a woman in her 30s and a man and woman in their 60s. In all, 10 women and eight men died. They ranged in age from their 30s to over 100, the IDPH reports.
According to the IDPH, more than 37,000 specimens were tested in a 24-hour period since Saturday, when health officials reported 1,828 new cases and five deaths. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity rate is now 4.1%, officials say.
As of Friday, residents of long-term care facilities in Illinois have accounted for 25,869 confirmed cases of the virus and about 4,300 deaths, according to IDPH data.
The total number of confirmed cases in the state now stands at 206,081, with a total of 7,744 virus-related deaths.
On Friday, the department said 14 counties in Illinois are considered to be at a warning level for the virus, including Kane, Will and Clinton, which is in the Metro East region. A county enters a warning level when it experiences an increase in at least two COVID-19 risk indicators from the state’s resurgence mitigation plan, according to IDPH.
Health officials say these 14 counties saw outbreaks associated with weddings, businesses, birthday parties, long-term care facilities, bars, sports camps and spread among members of the same household.
People in some communities are not wearing masks or aren’t wearing them correctly, according to IDPH. Masks must cover both the mouth and nose.
Note: This story was originally published Saturday. It has been updated to reflect new COVID-19 figures released Sunday by the IDPH.
