Marion County is back in the high COVID-19 community transmission level with 96 new cases and seven new hospitalizations reported in the week ending Thursday. The number of new cases is actually down 32 percent from the prior week, but the hospitalizations are up.
Marion County Health Department Administrator Melissa Mallow is reporting no new deaths in the county in the past week. There are now seven Marion County congregate care facilities in outbreak status. The highest number of cases in a facility is 31. Another has 22 and a third 18 positives. The others have seven, six, five, and two positives.
Jefferson, Fayette, and Wayne Counties are also all at the high community transmission level this week. Jefferson County had 75 new cases, a drop of 32 percent, but six new hospital admissions. Fayette County had 65 new cases, a 20 percent increase, with two new hospitalizations. Wayne County had 69 new cases, a 42-percent decline, and three new hospital admissions.
The Centers for Disease Control recommend those living in counties with high levels of COVID-19 transmission to wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public regardless of vaccination status. If you are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease you are encouraged to take additional precautions.
Clinton County has dropped to the low community transmission level. While there was a four percent increase in cases to 70, there were only two new hospitalizations.
Washington and Clay Counties are at the medium level. Washington County had 17 new cases, a 17-percent decline, and three new hospitalizations. Clay County had 50 new cases, a 40-percent decline, and one new hospitalization.
Statewide, there were 19,933 new cases reported along with 64 deaths. 28 of Illinois 102 counties are now at the high level and 40 at the medium community level. A total of 1,314 are in the hospital statewide from COVID 19 including 163 in the ICU and 48 on ventilators.
