Whiteside, Lee counties report 55 COVID-19 cases across week

Whiteside and Lee counties reported 55 new coronavirus cases across the last week, and the Whiteside County Health Department is recommending universal masking indoors.

Last week, the Lee and Ogle health departments issued statements recommending all wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, following along with updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The guidelines call for masking in all K-12 schools and indoors in counties that were at substantial or high risk for virus transmission.

Whiteside County hasn’t hit the substantial threshold yet, the health department stated Tuesday:

“Although the spread of COVID-19 in Whiteside County is not yet classified as substantial or high, the Whiteside County Health Department strongly recommends that employers, retailers, restaurants/bars, fitness/recreational centers, libraries, governmental entities, healthcare facilities, and other public venues implement universal indoor masking of their staff and patrons regardless of vaccination status.”

Whiteside County had 18 new cases last week and announced 14 cases on Monday totaling 7,361 cases. In July, there were 53 cases compared to 23 in June and 133 in May.

Lee County had 14 new cases across the week totaling 3,999 cases.

Whiteside County has administered 47,237 total doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 24,057 people (43.25%) fully vaccinated. Lee County has had 31,695 doses, with 16,084 people (47%) fully vaccinated. Carroll County has administered 9,999 vaccine doses, with 5,288 people (36.95%) fully vaccinated. Ogle County has had 44,527 doses, with 22,198 people (43.59%) fully vaccinated.