Cases of COVID-19 are increasing in Illinois.
Over the past week, more than 4400 new and probable cases were reported. That compares to about 2900 the previous week. Speaking at a virtual town hall meeting, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said the Delta Variant remains a concern since it’s a lot more contagious.
“That’s why we are seeing an increase in the number of people going into the hospital for COVID. After having those numbers go down, down, down, for months now it is turning around,” said Ezike.
As of Thursday night, there were 476 Illinois COVID patients in the hospital. Ezike says the best way to buck the trend is to get vaccinated.
Governor JB Pritzker says he is not looking to place a mask mandate back into place.
“I do recommend people are going inside with a lot of people in a room that it is appropriate to bring your mask, wear your mask. Some people feel safer that way. It may be an appropriate thing for many people who are immune-compromised. So at the moment, we are encouraging people to do what is comfortable for them in those environments,” said Pritzker.
But Pritzker says different standards may be required in some parts of the state if cases continue to rise.
Marion County is reporting 12 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and Friday. Health Department Administrator Melissa Mallow says of the 12 new cases, three were fully vaccinated. Eleven of the cases are considered community spread and one is a household or close contact. Two of the cases are in school-age children not currently in school and none in long-term care facilities.
There are now 46 active cases in the county, 42 on home isolation, and four in the hospital. Eleven have been released from isolation in the past two days. Ages range from three in their teens to a female in her 80s.
The Marion County positivity rate is now at 6.9-percent for the past seven days. Statewide, the positivity rate is at 1.9-percent.
