16 southern IL counties are now at a high COVID-19 community level. See latest data
The number of southern Illinois counties at a high COVID-19 community level more than doubled from June 30 to July 7.
Last week, Marion, Wayne, Franklin, Jackson, Williamson, Johnson and Massac counties were all at a high community level. Marion County has moved into the medium zone, but the other six are still at a high level.
Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Wabash, White, Hamilton, Gallatin, Hardin, Pope and Saline counties all moved into the high community level category in July 7’s CDC update.
St. Clair County remains at a medium level.
The number of high community level counties in the state as a whole remained at 28, as several central Illinois counties moved to lower levels.
The CDC updates the community levels and other data each Thursday.
Every Illinois county except Stark is at a high COVID-19 transmission level, a separate CDC metric. Stark is categorized as the next most severe, “substantial.”
A county’s community level is based on metrics from the past seven days, including new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people, average percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and total new cases per 100,000 people.
The community transmission level is based on the past seven days’ number of cases per 100,000 people and portion of positive nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs).
The CDC recommends indoor masking in areas at high community levels, and staying up to date with vaccines and boosters is recommended for everyone regardless of community designation.
Those who have come in contact with someone who tested positive or who have symptoms themselves should wear a mask and get tested.
The Illinois Department of Public Health recorded a daily case rate of 31.7 per 100,000 people in St. Clair County, a slight decrease from last week’s metric of 33.5. The portion of available ICU beds is 22% in the county, and there was one reported COVID-19 hospital admission.
The state agency reported one St. Clair County COVID-19 death for the week.
The CDC reported St. Clair County’s case rate decreased by 5.71%, and the number of tests performed dropped by 9.12%. Test positivity increased by 3.05%, to 18.84% overall.
You can schedule a COVID-19 vaccine or find testing locations online in St. Clair County.
This story was originally published July 9, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
