State Moves Lake County Again To ‘Warning Level’ For Coronavirus Spread

From the Lake & McHenry County Scanner:

By Sam Borcia

State health officials announced on Friday that Lake County is once again among over two dozen other counties at “warning level” for coronavirus risk.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 26 Illinois counties are at warning level: Case, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, Effingham, Fayette, Henderson, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lake, Lee, Mason, Massac, Pulaski, Richland, Saline, Shelby, Union, Vermilion, Whiteside, Winnebago, Warren.

The IDPH said that the reasons for counties reaching warning levels vary.

Some of the common factors for an increase in cases and outbreaks are associated with college parties, weddings, large gatherings, bars and clubs, weddings and funerals, long-term care facilities and other congregate settings.

The IDPH also said that officials are seeing people that are not social distancing, gathering in large groups and not using face coverings.

“Mayors, local law enforcement, state’s attorneys, and other community leaders can be influential in ensuring citizens and businesses follow best practices.” officials said.

The IDPH uses eight indicators when determining a county’s COVID-10 activity.

Those indicators include the new cases per 100,000 people, number of deaths, weekly test positivity, ICU availability, weekly emergency department visits, weekly hospital admissions, tests performed and clusters.

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Lake County has two of its eight indicators at warning level, which includes the number of new cases per 100,000 and the number of emergency room visits for COVID-19-like illness.

The Lake County Health Department said that there were 90 new cases per 100,000 people reported in the last week in the county, compared to 85 new cases the previous week.

The percentage of adult emergency room visits for COVID-19-like illness was 4.3%, up from 2.8% the week before.

Free COVID-19 testing is available in Barrington this weekend.

A mobile testing unit managed by the Illinois Department of Public Health will be stationed at Barrington High School, 616 West Main Street in Barrington, on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or while supplies last.

The testing unit will also be at the Wauconda Park District Softball parking lot, 600 North Main Street in Wauconda, on Thursday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Grant High School, 285 East Grand Avenue in Fox Lake, on October 18 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Testing is free and open to all regardless of symptoms. A phone number and name are required in order to receive testing results.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.