Will County Now At Warning Level For Coronavirus: IDPH

WILL COUNTY, IL — Will County has joined 13 other counties which are considered to be at a warning level for the coronavirus. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, a county enters a warning level when two or more coronavirus risk indicators increase.

The other 13 counties at warning level are: Bureau, Cass, Clinton, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Jefferson, Kane, La Salle, Moultrie, Perry and Union.

Will County is at warning level for two different metrics: the number of emergency department visits for COVID-19-like illness and new cases per 1,000. According to data from IDPH, Will County has 93 cases per 100,000 people, and the target is less than 50.

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According to IDPH, these counties saw cases or outbreaks associated with weddings, businesses, birthday parties, long-term care facilities and other congregate settings, bars, sports camps, and spread among members of the same household.

Public health officials are seeing people in some communities are not wearing masks, or if they are, they are being worn incorrectly. IDPH said local health departments are finding it challenging to obtain the information necessary to halt local transmission, by quickly identifying exposures from contacts of cases and businesses.

Inconsistent messaging from local elected leaders are contributing to ongoing transmission in some communities where there is little public concern for consequences or enforcement of social distancing, banning large gatherings, or quarantine/isolation orders, according to IDPH.