March 28, 2024
Coronavirus | Sauk Valley


Coronavirus

Gov. Pritzker warns of increased COVID-19 mitigations as region nears warning level

Sauk Valley reports 45 COVID-19 cases, one death Wednesday

The governor and area health departments issued warnings as the region's positivity rate nears 8 percent, and the Sauk Valley reported 45 new cases of coronavirus Wednesday as well as an additional death in Carroll County.

The North region (Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties) has seen five days of positivity increases and one day of hospital admission increases. The region's positivity rate increased to 7.5%, the highest rate of any of the state's 11 regions.

Gov. JB Pritzker warned that the region has a positivity rate growing “at a concerning rate."

The state has a threshold of 8% for three consecutive days before it steps in for mitigations. It has done so on two occasions in the past two months, putting restrictions on Region 4 (Metro East) and Region 7 (Will and Kankakee counties).

In a joint news release for the region, health departments cautioned that the region is close to being at a state warning level.

If Region 1 goes into warning level, the Governor’s Office will mandate additional prevention strategies to protect the public health such as early closures and limited hours for bars, restaurants, gaming facilities, and casinos; further restrictions on indoor services and dining; and reducing the number of guests for social gatherings.

"The Local Health Departments want our communities to move forward toward recovery and not have to return to stricter measures to prevent further rise in community spread of COVID-19 that is driving the increase in positivity rate," the news release said. "The LHDs cannot do this on our own. Each of us has a role in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in our communities."

In addition to washing hands, wearing masks and social distancing, community members should get tested, limit their contacts and leave or avoid places that aren't following coronavirus guidelines.

Lee County had 14 new cases, with 13 from Jack Mabley Developmental Center residents. All residents were from one house, and there are no positive or pending employee cases. The new community positive was a person in his or her 30s, for a total of 345 cases, one death and 275 recoveries.

Whiteside County reported nine new cases, with two in their 20s, two in their 30s, and five in their 60s, and two new recoveries, Whiteside now totals 725 cases, 20 deaths and 560 recoveries.

Carroll County announced the death of a person in his or her 80s and had five new cases, with one in his or her 20s, two in their 60s and two in their 70s, for a total of 221 cases and five deaths.

Ogle County had 17 new cases for a total of 678 cases, six deaths and 551 recoveries.

Testing in the Sterling area totals 3,402 tests and 259 positive cases. Rock Falls has had 1,821 tests and 126 cases, and Dixon has had 4,951 tests and 253 cases.

Illinois announced 1,848 new cases and 22 additional deaths Wednesday, and now totals 279,114 cases and 8,508 deaths.