DeKalb County reports 47 more COVID-19 cases as positivity rates rise amid mitigation extension

In the past 24 hours, 47 more DeKalb County residents tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to the DeKalb County Health Department, and the region's positivity rate continues to go in the opposite direction required to lift current restrictions.

Also on Tuesday, the county health department reported Bethany Rehabilitation and Health Care Center is back in outbreak mode with two cases in staff.

Tuesday's announcement brings the total number of cases in DeKalb County to 2,209, while the death toll remains at 42.

Cases were again reported in every age bracket in the county, following a nearly 100-case count jump over the weekend where cases were also reported in residents from younger than 20 to 80 or older. The region's positivity rate is double what is required to ease current restrictions according to state data.

Of the new cases, 10 were in residents younger than 20, six in their 20s, seven in their 30s, six in their 40s, 12 in their 50s, three in their 60s, one in their 70s and two were in their 80s or older.

In total, there are 370 cases in residents younger than 20, 637 in their 20s, 298 in their 30s, 305 in their 40s, 259 in their 50s, 144 in their 60s, 98 in their 70s and 98 aged 80 or older.

Bethany Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in DeKalb marks the fifth long-term care facility currently in outbreak mode and the eighth overall. It reported its first cases June 8, but up until now, none since.

Although not listed on the county website, the Illinois Department of Public Health lists Opportunity House as a long-term care facility, and as of Tuesday, reported an outbreak of 15 cases. Willow Crest Nursing Pavilion in Sandwich remained at 68 total cases and is at 15 deaths. Prairie Crossing Living and Rehabilitation Center in Shabbona still reports three cases, Oak Crest-DeKalb Area Retirement Center in DeKalb reports 12 cases and on death, and DeKalb County Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in DeKalb reports 10 cases.

The county's health region began enhanced restrictions earlier this month which were extended through Nov. 14, with restaurants and bars prohibited from allowing indoor dining. Region 1, which includes DeKalb, the Sauk Valley area and Rockford, reported a seven-day rolling test positivity rate of 13.4% as of Oct. 17, since IDPH data is three days behind.

The region needs three days in a row of a rolling average of less than 6.5% to have the restrictions lifted. The region's rate has not dropped below 8% since mitigations went into effect, so restrictions will remain until otherwise stated by the IDPH.

As of Saturday, DeKalb County's positivity rate was at 8.7%.

According to county data, the city of DeKalb reports between 1,131 and 1,135 cases. There are between 326 and 330 cases in Sycamore, 211 and 215 in Sandwich and Plano, 151 and 155 cases in Genoa, 106 and 110 cases in Cortland, 46 and 50 cases in Hinckley, 51 and 55 cases in Kirkland, 41 and 45 cases in Kingston, 31 and 35 in Somonauk and Malta, 26 and 30 in Waterman, 16 and 20 in Maple Park, Shabbona. Esmond, Leland, Earlville and Clare each report between one and five cases.

The IDPH lists cases and tests performed by ZIP code, while the county health department lists cases by municipality. Numbers vary between state and health departments because of data lags.

The 60115 ZIP code, including DeKalb, had 1,078 cases reported and 19,694 tests administered (a positivity rate of 5.4%); the 60178 ZIP code, including Sycamore, had 322 cases and 7,249 tests (4.4%); the 60548 ZIP code, including Sandwich, had 4,910 tests and 320 cases (6.5%); the 60112 ZIP code, including Cortland, had 109 cases and 1,624 tests (6.7%); the 60135 ZIP code, including Genoa, had 145 cases and 2,372 tests (6.1%); the 60145 ZIP code, including Kingston, had 40 cases and 654 tests (6.1%); the 60146 ZIP code, including Kirkland, had 64 cases and 928 tests (6.8%); the 60520 ZIP code, including Hinckley, had 44 cases and 903 tests (4.8%); the 60550 ZIP code, including Shabbona, had 17 cases and 671 tests (2.5%); the 60151 ZIP code, including parts of Maple Park in both DeKalb and Kane counties, had 55 cases and 1,216 tests (4.5%); and the 60556 ZIP code, including Waterman, had 23 cases and 534 tests (4.3%).

As of Tuesday, the IDPH reported 350,875 people in Illinois have tested positive for COVID-19, while 9,277 people have died statewide. There have been 6,883,314 tests performed.

According to the county health department, as of Oct. 16, 1,214 DeKalb County residents fully recovered from the viral respiratory disease, and 38,500 COVID-19 tests have been conducted. That data is expected to be updated Friday.