There were six new hospitalizations for COVID-19 in Jefferson and Wayne Counties in the last reporting week putting the two counties at the medium level for COVID-19 hospitalization.
The rest of South Central Illinois remains at the low level for hospitalization, but four congregate care facilities in Marion County are now listed on outbreak status.
Marion County Health Department Administrator Melissa Mallow says three of the facilities are in Salem and the fourth in Centralia. One Salem facility has 19 positive tests in residents and 17 among staff members. A second Salem facility has five positive patients, including one in the hospital, and one positive staff member. The third has one patient and one staff member. The Centralia facility on outbreak has two positive staff members.
Overall, Marion and Washington County had two new hospitalizations in the latest reporting week. Clinton and St. Clair County have 16 hospitalizations, Clay and Jasper County two, and Fayette and Effingham Counties no new hospitalizations.
Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sameer Vohra says IDPH continues to closely monitor the latest data as we near the end of the respiratory virus season. He’s pleased to report only four counties in the state are at the medium level of infection and none at the high level. The two other counties at the medium level are Johnson and Massac County in deep Southern Illinois.
If people do develop symptoms of a respiratory illness, including coughing, sneezing, sore throat, a running nose, or fever, IDPH recommends staying home and away from others to avoid spreading illness. Illinoisans at risk for severe outcomes are reminded to use the highly effective tools available to protect themselves from COVID-19, flu, and RSV.
