PEORIA, Ill. — Illinois’ Region 2, which includes the tri-county area, is performing better than any of the state’s 11 regions, in terms of positivity rates and hospitalizations due to COVID-19.
“But, a 7.2% positivity average is nothing to write home about. And, that’s on top of a slight uptick in hospitalizations this month,” said Gov. J-B Pritzker.
Speaking at OSF’s Jump Simulation Center Monday, Gov. Pritzker said Region 2 reached a high of 7.7% positivity in September. The positivity rate was below 5% October 4th, but it climbed again the past few weeks to an average 7.2% positivity as of Monday morning.
Heading into the holiday season, Pritzker reiterates that to fight the virus, we all need to wear a mask, wash our hands and watch our distance from others.
All 11 regions of the state in the “Restore Illinois” plan are moving in the wrong direction in terms of new coronavirus infections, according to the governor.
Pritzker said our knowledge of what works in the battle against COVID-19 has grown significantly since the spring, but, the virus is not going away.
“And, it’s constantly looking for new hosts. So, we need to use the tools that we have available to us to continue this fight,” Pritzker said.
“One of the greatest tools we have (against the virus) is testing, testing, testing” the governor said.
The Illinois Department of Public Health on Monday reported 4,729 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.
IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said, “of the nearly 5,000 Illinois residents diagnosed, in the coming weeks, we know a certain percentage will end up in the hospital and a certain percentage will end up in the ICU.”
“The amazing nurses and doctors and respiratory therapists and physician assistants, will do everything in their power to minimize the number of hospital and ICU patients that go on to lose their lives,” Ezike said.
If current models hold, Illinois could see 11,000 COVID-related deaths before the end of the year, Ezike added.
