All but 2 IL counties at ‘high’ COVID transmission level. Learn more about latest CDC data

All but two Illinois counties are now at “high” levels of COVID-19 community transmission under the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest update to its guidance.

The federal health agency updated its county-level transmission map late Thursday, scoring all but two counties in the state – Jasper and Putnam – as high. Both are scored “substantial.”

Last week, all but eight of the counties fell into the high range.

The community transmission level metric takes into account new cases per 100,000 individuals and the percentage of positive nucleic acid amplification tests, or NAATs, both over the past seven days, per the CDC.

Below is the CDC’s transmission map of Illinois, as of June 17.

CDC COVID Community Levels

Under a separate metric, the CDC downgraded several southern Illinois counties from “high” COVID-19 community levels.

Last week, the CDC had designated five southern counties as “high” – Franklin, Jackson, Williamson, Massac and Johnson.

The CDC recommends masking in indoor, public places in counties at high COVID community levels.

As of June 17, Jackson, Williamson and Johnson had been moved to “medium” COVID community levels, and Franklin has moved to “low.”

Massac County, in the far south reaches of the state, remains at a high COVID community level under the latest update.

A number of central Illinois counties also rated high, as well as a handful in the north. In all, 25 counties are rated as high.

Here’s how metro-east counties stand on COVID community levels as of June 17:

• St. Clair – Medium
• Monroe – Medium
• Madison – Medium
• Randolph – Medium
• Bond – Low
• Clinton – Medium
• Washington - Low

Unlike the transmission levels, the CDC’s COVID community levels are calculated based on new confirmed cases per 100,000 people and number of new confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions, both over the past seven days, as well as a seven-day average of occupied COVID-19 hospital beds.

What do the COVID-19 community levels mean? Where should I mask?

The federal health agency provides the follow guidance by COVID-19 community level:

• Low: Stay up to date on all vaccinations, get tested if you have symptoms.
• Medium: If you are at severe risk, consider masking or other precautions; stay up to date on all vaccinations; get tested if you have symptoms.
• High: Wear a mask in indoor, public places; take additional precautions if you or someone you come in contact with are high risk; stay up to date on all vaccinations; get tested if you have symptoms.

Anyone experiencing symptoms or who has come in contact with someone positive should wear and mask and get tested, the CDC says.

COVID in Illinois

Friday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported the state had recorded 27,112 “new and probable” cases and 68 COVID-19 deaths since June 10.

To date, 33,994 Illinois residents have died of COVID-19.

“With 64 counties at the Medium or High Community Level across Illinois in the wake of Memorial Day, this should serve as a warning to all of us as we are making plans to celebrate Father’s Day and Juneteenth this coming weekend,” IDPH Acting Director Amaal Tokars said, in part. “We urge everyone to keep the safety of their loved ones in mind, especially older family members and those who are vulnerable to severe outcomes.”

The acting director encouraged individuals to make sure they are up to date on boosters before attending gatherings, and to stay home if you are experiencing symptoms.

“In areas with elevated community levels, you should wear your mask in indoor public places and avoid indoor crowded spaces,” Tokars said.

You can find a vaccination site near you by visiting vaccines.gov.