Sauk Valley reports 32 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, health departments issue warnings

The Illinois Department of Public Health's North region, consisting of Whiteside, Lee, Carroll, Ogle, Boone, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago counties, is issuing a warning as the region is on the verge of entering COVID-19 mitigation measures.

The mitigation measures, which go into effect Saturday and include closing indoor service at bars and restaurants, are in response to the region's coronavirus positivity rate topping 8% and the infection rate increasing.

Local health departments joined together Tuesday to warn residents to limit non-essential travel, limit contact with other people, stay six feet apart from others, and leave any large gathering where people are not wearing masks or social distancing.

Whiteside County had 13 new cases of COVID-19, the fifth day in a row of 10 or more new cases and the most in a single day in nearly two weeks. The new cases involve four people in their 60s, three under 20, two in their 30s, two in their 50s, one in their 70s and one over 80.

Lee County had 10 new cases Tuesday involving three people in their 20s, two in their 30s, two in their 40s, a teenager, a person in their 50s and a person in their 80s. In addition, five Lee County residents have been lifted off of isolation and are recovered.

Ogle County had nine new cases Tuesday. The county has had 115 new cases in the past week.

Whiteside County has had 788 cases and 20 COVID-related deaths. Lee County has had 388 cases, 294 recoveries and one death. Ogle County has had 767 cases and six deaths. Carroll County, which did not report updated statistics on Tuesday, has had 233 cases, 205 recoveries and five deaths.

Sterling has had 3,736 tests and 277 cases. Rock Falls has had 2,024 tests and 143 cases. Dixon has had 5,234 tests and 279 cases. Rochelle has had 3,742 tests and 365 cases.

Illinois on Tuesday announced 1,362 new cases and 23 deaths. The state has had 291,001 cases and 8,637 deaths.