Will-Kankakee Reports Highest-Ever Coronavirus Positivity

WILL COUNTY — State officials imposed new restrictions in Region 7 after a surge in coronavirus cases, but the upward trend has reached new heights a few weeks after increased mitigations.

Public health data shows the positivity rate in Region 7 — made up of Will and Kankakee counties — reached 13.3 percent as of Wednesday. Positivity in the region has also been increasing for nine consecutive days.

That is the highest positivity rate recorded in Region 7 since officials first started publishing the measure in June, according to statistics from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
At 13.3 percent, the region's positivity rate is more than twice as high as it was at the beginning of October (5.6 percent).

Will County's positivity rate stood at 10 percent as of Friday, while Kankakee County's positivity rate was 7.7 percent, according to IDPH statistics.

Region 7 triggered new restrictions last month after the region 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. 16, 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.

During his Monday press conference, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said that Region 7 recorded the highest increase in positivity in the state over the weekend. The region is also showing an uptick in hospitalizations and availability of medical/surgical beds have gone down to 22 percent, very close to the 20 percent threshold.