More Restrictions Loom With Will-Kankakee Positivity At 14.2%

WILL COUNTY, IL — The positivity rate in Will and Kankakee counties hit new highs after a week and a half of additional coronavirus restrictions on restaurants and bars, according to public health data.

Statistics from the Illinois Department of Public Health show the positivity rate in Region 7 — made up of Will and Kankakee counties — hit 13.3 percent Wednesday, its highest point of the pandemic.

At 14. 2 percent, the region's positivity rate is more than twice as high as it was Oct. 8 (5.6 percent), according to the state's data.

Will County's positivity rate is at 13.1 percent as of Friday, while Kankakee County's positivity rate was 10.9 percent, according to IDPH statistics.

Public health officials and Gov. J.B. Pritzker imposed restrictions last month on the region after it recorded a positivity rate above 8 percent for three days in a row. The new restrictions ban indoor service at bars and restaurants and a limit social gatherings to 25 people.

The region's positivity rate has been above 8 percent since Oct. 15, public health data shows.

Restrictions will be lifted when the region records positivity rates under 6.5 percent for three days in a row, while public health officials will add more restrictions if the regional positivity rate remains above 8 percent after 14 days with additional mitigations.

As of Monday, Region 7 had recorded a positivity rate above 8 percent for 11 days with mitigations in place. Testing data is not made available for several days.

If the region triggers "Tier 2" of the IDPH's mitigation plan, additional restrictions at bars and restaurants would limit party sizes to six people instead of 10.
Gatherings, both indoor and outdoor, would be limited to 10 people, though that does not apply to students learning in person or to sports.

Groups participating in organized recreational activities will also be limited to 10 people, but that restriction does not apply to fitness centers, according to the IDPH's plan.