Both Marion and Washington Counties have moved from the low to medium community level for COVID-19.
There are now 15 counties at the high level all around the Chicago and Peoria area. Another 30 counties are at the medium community level.
State Public Health Spokesman Mike Claffey says some individuals may want to consider a mask.
“At a time when COVID cases rates are slowly rising in many parts of the state if you’re a person who is immunocompromised and vulnerable to serious outcomes you want to be very careful. You don’t want to be in a large crowd without wearing a mask.”
Those who live in counties at the medium level should make sure to get up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines or get their 2nd booster, if eligible.
Marion County reported 36 new COVID-19 cases in the past week, a 57-percent increase. There were six new hospitalizations. Health Department Administrator Melissa Mallow says the county has gone another week without a death and for the second week in a row one congregate care facility is on breakout status due to two or more related cases.
Washington County had 10 new cases, a 25-percent increase. There were two new hospitalizations.
The rest of South Central Illinois remains at the low level. Clinton County had 48 new cases this week, down six percent. There were two new hospitalizations. Jefferson County had 25 new cases, a four percent increase. There was one new hospitalization. Fayette County had 21 new cases, a 31-percent increase. There were no new hospitalizations. Clay County had 11 new cases, down 31 percent, and no new hospitalizations. Wayne County also had 11 new cases, a ten percent increase, and one hospitalization.
Statewide, there were 36,943 new confirmed or probable cases and 45 new deaths. As of Thursday night, 1,136 were hospitalized around the state including 123 in an ICU unit and 36 on ventilators.
