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Governor JB Pritzker says current COVID-19 restrictions will remain in place for the coming weeks in anticipation of a possible post-Thanksgiving surge.

The number of new cases has been declining in the last few days, but the trend may not hold.  Prizker says even in an area that meets the metrics to ease up on mitigations, that won’t be allowed for a while.

“We are still very much in a precarious place.  We have to take the time to evaluate any Thanksgiving effect before we make any adjustments.”

The Governor says he has spoken to several experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci who agree.  He notes another concern is that a surge of new cases will overwhelm already crowded Illinois hospitals.

The Illinois Department of Public Health Monday reported 6,190 new cases and 85 additional deaths.  None of the deaths were in South Central Illinois.

The positivity rate for the seven-day period ending Sunday remains at 10.2-percent.

The Southern Illinois positivity rate which includes Marion, Jefferson, and Wayne Counties, is at 12.1-percent.  While 28-percent of med-surg beds remain open in the region, open ICU beds have now fallen below 20 percent for four days in a row and are currently at 16-percent.   In Marion County, the seven-day positivity rate has fallen to 12.7-percent.

In the Metro East Region which includes Washington and Clinton Counties, the positivity rate is at 14-percent.  Med-surg beds have had less than 20 percent capacity for the past 11 days, while ICU beds have been under that threshold for seven.

In the East Central Illinois Region that includes Fayette and Clay Counties, the positivity rate is at 11.7-percent.  More than 20-percent of both med-surg and ICU beds remain open.