The Illinois Department of Public Health says if mitigation metrics continue to improve, the Metro East Region could move to Phase Four of the Restore Illinois Plan on Thursday allowing indoor dining, groups of up to 50, and many sports to resume.
For the second day in a row on Wednesday, the Metro-East Region that includes Clinton and Washington County had 20-percent of its ICU beds available. That’s the minimum threshold established by the state to move to the higher mitigation level. The region will be allowed to move to Phase 4 if the percent of ICU beds remains at 20-percent or greater on Thursday. For the third day in a row, the seven-day positivity rate for the Metro East Region is at 6.5-percent which is also within guidelines for Phase Four.
Illinois Public Health Officials announced 3,314 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday as well as 69 additional deaths. The deaths include a male in his 70s in Jefferson County and a male in his 80s in Effingham County. The statewide positivity rate fell to 3.5-percent. The Southern Illinois Region has a seven-day positivity rate of 4.7-percent. The East Central Illinois Region is 4.6-percent. The Marion County seven day rolling average fell another two-tenths of a percent to 2.6-percent.
The Marion County Health Department is not doing a daily release of COVID-19 numbers on Wednesday.
The Clinton County Health Department is reporting 23 new cases, including 208 who are on home isolation and seven who are hospitalized.
The Jefferson County Health Department is reporting 40 new cases, including 22 at the Big Muddy Correctional Center. 160 are currently in isolation.
The Washington County Health Department is reporting 13 new cases for Tuesday and Wednesday. There are now 30 active cases and one person hospitalized.
The Fayette County Health Department had six new positive cases.
The Clay County Health Department had seven new cases on Tuesday.
