SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Tazewell County is among the counties in the state of Illinois considered to be at warning level by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
A county enters warning level when two or more COVID-19 risk indicators measure the amount of COVID-19 increase.
The metrics considered by IDPH are as follows:
• New cases per 100,000 people. If there are more than 50 new cases per 100,000 people in the county, this triggers a warning.
• Number of deaths. This metric indicates a warning when the weekly number of deaths increases more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
• Weekly test positivity. This metric indicates a warning when the 7-day test positivity rate rises above 8%.
• ICU availability. If there are fewer than 20% of intensive care units available in the region, this triggers a warning.
• Weekly emergency department visits. This metric indicates a warning when the weekly percent of COVID-19-like-illness emergency department visits increase by more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
• Weekly hospital admissions. A warning is triggered when the weekly number of hospital admissions for COVID-19-like-illness increases by more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
• Tests performed. This metric is used to provide context and indicate if more testing is needed in the county.
• Clusters. This metric looks at the percent of COVID-19 cases associated with clusters or outbreaks and is used to understand large increase in cases.
The Tazewell County Health Department said in a release Friday that the Health Advisory is in effect due to significant increases in cases per 100,000 population and the hospital admissions for COVID-like-illness.
Based on data through contact tracing, the health department has identified contributing factors to the case increase.
Among the reasons for the increase stated by the health department are a disregard for using face coverings and maintaining social distance and increased activity due to social gatherings without proper social distancing and face coverings.
IDPH announced 2,145 new cases Friday of COVID-19 in the state, including 32 additional deaths.
The total number of cases reported by IDPH is now 257,788 and 8,273 deaths.
The seven-day statewide positivity rate remains below 4% and is currently at 3.9%.
More information and numbers on COVID-19 in the area and state can be found HERE.
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