The federal Center for Disease Control reports the steady decline in COVID-19 cases is continuing through most of South Central Illinois.
Only 58 new cases were reported in Marion County for the weekend ending Friday. The county’s rate of infection fell to 156 per 100,000, which was 9.4-percent lower than the previous week but still well above the 100 per 100,000 residents needed to drop to the substantial classification. There were no new hospitalizations reported during the week. 48-percent of the population over 12 is now fully vaccinated.
Clinton County joined Washington County in falling from the high to a substantial rate of infection. The county reported only 32 new cases in the week ending Friday. The infection rate of 85 per 100,000 is down 22-percent. There were no new hospitalizations.
Washington County reported 11 new cases for the week and an infection rate of 79 per 100,000. That’s down 27-percent from the prior week. Washington County had one new hospitalization.
Fayette County was the only county to see a jump in the rate of infection. There were 46 new cases reported. The rate of infection is at 216 per 100,000, a jump of 31-percent over the prior week. Fayette County recorded 12 new hospital admissions in the week ending Friday.
Jefferson County reported 57 new cases and an infection rate of 151 per 100,000. That’s a 30-percent decline. Jefferson County had seven new admissions.
Clay County had 25 new admissions and has an infection rate of 190 per 100,000. The county also had 13 new hospital admissions.
Wayne County has had 39 new cases and an infection rate of 241 per 100,000. That’s a 20-percent decline. There were two new hospitalizations.
Franklin County, which includes Benton and West Frankfort, is the only Southern Illinois to fall to the moderate category with only 49 cases per 100,000 people.
