McHenry Co. COVID-19 Positivity Rate Sees Rapid Decline

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — After seeing a steady increase in COVID-19 cases the positivity rate has been on the decline in recent weeks in McHenry County.

The most recent spike in coronavirus cases came in mid-August when the seven-day rolling average peaked at 8.9 percent on Aug. 17, according to Illinois Department of Public Health data. In the past three weeks, the positivity rate has dropped by more than four percentage points.

As of Sept. 7, the seven-day rolling average for the positivity rate is 4.6 percent.

Meanwhile, McHenry County vaccination rates continue to lag behind the statewide rate. In Illinois, 62 percent of residents are fully vaccinated, according to state officials. In McHenry County, 54.43 percent of residents have received their COVID-19 vaccines.

In late August, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a statewide mask mandate amid the rising COVID-19 cases. All teachers — kindergarten through college —are also now required to either get vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing. Testing could be required more frequently in the case of a coronavirus outbreak in the community, Pritzker said.