By Dani Tietz
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today that additional mitigation measures could be coming for Region 6: including Champaign, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, De Witt, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Iroquois, Jasper, Lawrence, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, Richland, Shelby and Vermillion counties.
Champaign County data was removed from Region 6 this week after data showed that the University of Illinois’ practice of repeated saliva testing for staff and students was skewing the positivity percentages throughout the region.
Up to up to 20-percent of all tests done in the state happen at the University of Illinois some weeks.
Because of this high volume, the positivity rate for Region 6 could be overshadowed by what is happening at UIUC. Therefore, in addition to providing data for Region 6, IDPH is now presenting data for Region 6 without Champaign County.
As of Sept. 30, that data shows that with the Champaign County’s data in Region 6, there is a 2.0% 7-day rolling test positivity average. Without Champaign County, Region 6 is seeing a 7.2%, which puts the region at risk for needing to implement additional mitigation measures, including no indoor bar service or dining at restaurants, and limiting the size of event gatherings to 25 people.
At this time, mitigations do not currently apply to schools.
IDPH is currently working alongside local health departments and community leaders i to curb the rate by making sure people are wearing masks in public, maintaining social distance, and not gathering in large groups.
When a region’s test positivity rate hits 8 percent or higher, the entire region will move back a phase in the state’s reopening plan.
CUPHD reports a total 361 active COVID-19 cases, and 1 additional death (21 total) in Champaign County. Zip code 61873 (St. Joseph) has 10 active cases while zip code 61859 (Ogden) and 61849 (Homer) each have one active case of COVID-19. Royal, Allerton and Broadlands have no active cases at this time.
Vermilion County currently has 100 active cases.
IDPH is reporting a total of 293,274 cases, including 8,672 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois in 2020.
