Spike In Will-Kankee Hospitalizations, Coronavirus Positivity

WILL COUNTY, IL — As cases and hospitalizations keep rising across the state, the Will-Kankakee region is seeing another spike in its positivity rate. As of Friday, Region 7 has a positivity of 10.5 percent, according to data reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The region is seeing a positivity increase for eight consecutive days. Hospitalizations have also increased over the past 10-day period for four consecutive days.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently announced that state officials are imposing restrictions on Will and Kankakee counties once again after positivity rates in the region eclipsed 8 percent for three straight days.

The state's regional coronavirus-mitigation strategies include a ban on indoor service at restaurants and bars, as well as a cap on the size of public gatherings.

Any region that sustains an 8 percent positivity rate for three days in a row or sees an increase in positivity rates and simultaneous decrease in hospital capacity will need to implement additional community mitigation interventions, the IDPH website states.

Other than three days with average coronavirus positivity rates above 8 percent, restrictions can also be triggered by a combination of seven days out of the past 10 with increasing positivity rates — plus either a decline in hospital bed capacity below 20 percent or an increase for seven of the last 10 days in the rounded average number of new hospital admissions with "COVID-like illness."

Positivity rate in Will County has also spiked and is at 10 percent as of Friday. The county is also at a warning level for the number of new cases per 100,000 people. There are 232 new cases and the target is 50 or less.

Currently, 49 counties in Illinois are a warning level for the virus, and the Will County Health Department said in a release that although the reasons for counties reaching a warning level varies, some common factors for an increase in cases and outbreaks are associated with gatherings in people’s homes, weddings and funerals, bars and clubs, university and college parties as well as college sports teams, family gatherings, long-term care facilities, correctional centers, schools, and cases among the community at large, especially people in their 20s.

"Public health officials are observing businesses blatantly disregarding mitigation measures, people 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," WCHD said.