New Restrictions For Region 9 Could Be Announced Today

MCHENRY AND LAKE COUNTIES, IL —The coronavirus positivity rate has remained over 8 percent for a second day in Region 9, and Lake and McHenry counties could soon join several other Illinois regions where state officials have enacted additional restrictions to slow the spread of the virus, according to the latest public health data. The region, which includes Lake and McHenry counties, saw its seven-day rolling average hit 8.4 percent on Oct. 24, which is its highest positivity rate to date.

If that rate remains over 8 percent on Wednesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker will announce additional mitigations for the counties during a 2:30 p.m. press conference, Hannah Goering, director of marketing and communications for the Lake County Department of Health, told Patch in an e-mail response late Tuesday.

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The positivity rate has increased the past nine out of 10 days. If it continues to stay over 8 percent for three days, the Illinois Department of Public Health could implement new restrictions. At the earliest, those restrictions could be ordered on Wednesday, which could mean the end of indoor service at bars and restaurants and limiting the number of people allowed at gatherings.

The mitigations typically take effect 48 hours after IDPH makes its announcement. State health officials can also impose new restrictions if the positivity rate grows alongside increases in hospitalizations and ICU admissions.

The positivity rate in Region 9 was just 6.2 percent two weeks ago, and McHenry County COVID-19 cases have been spiking much faster than Lake County cases. As of Oct. 24, the seven-day rolling average for the positivity rate in Lake County was 7 percent while McHenry County was at 12.1 percent.

The McHenry County positivity rate tipped over 12 percent on Oct. 18 after 19.5 percent of its residents tested positive for the virus in one day. The positivity rate has remained above 12 percent since then, according to the latest public health statistics.

Meanwhile, there has been an increase in hospital admissions the past five out of 10 days but intensive care unit beds remained readily available, according to IDPH standards. The region had 50 percent of its beds available as of Oct. 23, which is well above IDPH's 21 percent threshold.

On Tuesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Chicago would join the growing number of Illinois regions where indoor dining at restaurants and drinking at bars would be banned.

Seven of the state's regions are now under additional mitigations. By Wednesday, Regions 4, 5, 7, 8, and 10 will all operate under Tier 1 mitigation measures given that these regions continue to report a 7-day rolling positivity rate above 8 percent.

Region 1 is currently operating under Tier 2 mitigation measures after continuing to see a rise in positivity even under the Tier 1 mitigation framework, now at a rolling positivity average of 12.5 percent as of Tuesday.

For the counties where additional mitigations are added, restrictions can be lifted when the region records positivity rates under 6.5 percent for three days in a row. And public health officials can add more restrictions if the regional positivity rate remains above 8 percent for 14 days in a row.

MORE ON PATCH

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• COVID-19 In Region 9: More Restrictions Could Be Coming This Week