Two COVID-related deaths, 79 new cases in Sauk Valley on Friday

The Whiteside County Health Department on Friday announced 31 new cases of COVID-19 and one recovery. The new cases involve four people younger than 20, six in their 20s, two in their 30s, seven in their 40s, two in their 50s, six in their 60s and four in their 70s.

Lee County announced a COVID-related death on Friday, of a man in his 80s. Lee County also had 17 new cases, two of which were from Dixon Correctional Center. There also were 13 residents released from isolation having recovered. The new cases involved one child younger than 12, two teens, three people in their 30s, three in their 40s, two in their 50s, two in their 60s and one in his or her 70s.

Ogle County announced 21 new cases Friday.

Carroll County announced a COVID-related death of a person in his or her 80s. Carroll County also had 10 new cases Friday involving one child, two teens, five people in their 60s and one in his or her 70s.

Whiteside County has had 5,475 cases, 4,955 recoveries and 135 deaths. Lee County has had 2,851 cases and 55 deaths. Ogle County has had 4,571 cases, 4,023 recoveries and 64 deaths. Carroll County has had 1,423 cases and 33 deaths.

Sterling has had 17,530 tests and 2,068 cases. Rock Falls has had 8,420 tests and 1,181 cases. Dixon has had 34,436 tests and 2,092 cases. Rochelle has had 10,192 tests and 1,484 cases.

The North region (Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties) saw its positivity rate rise above the 6.5% positivity rate needed to advance to Phase 4. It had been below it for 2 days until it increased Friday to 6.6%. Currently, 28% of ICU beds are available.

The region has 40 consecutive days above the 20% threshold for ICU bed availability.

Within this region, Lee County’s positivity rate fell to 1.1%, Ogle County’s rate rose to 4.8%, and Whiteside County’s rose to 5.8%.

Hospitalizations have decreased 9 out of the past 10 days in this region.

The Illinois Department of Public Health on Friday announced 7,042 new cases and 95 deaths. There have been 1,093,375 cases and 18,615 deaths statewide.