Effingham County On COVID Warning List

Effingham County has reached the Illinois Department of Public Health warning level for the number of positive COVID-19 cases recorded in the period August 19-25.

The 146 new cases in the time period gave the county an average test positivity rate of 14%. Warning level is reached when a county hits 8%. The warning level is reached when two or more COVID-19 risk indicators increase. The county's other increase was seen in the number of new cases per 100,000 people. We don't have that many people in the county, so the guideline is based on a percentage of those who've tested positive.

Moving to the "orange level" or warning level does NOT place further restrictions on community activities, but is meant to raise awareness that COVID-19 illness is widespread in the county and the risk of contracting the disease is high.

Individuals and families should consider this information when making personal choices. Should I go out with friends or should I stay at home? Should we attend or host a large gathering? Are there any additional precautions I should take given my person/family health risks?

The health department conducts contact tracing activities on positive cases to determine the source of disease spread and to identify actions that might prevent additional cases from occurring. Thus far, contact tracing investigation reveals a commonality among positive cases to be attendance at gatherings where social distancing is not occurring and where facial coverings are not being worn. Even still, there is a large number of cases with no known contact to a COVID-19 positive case.

Thursday, the County received notification of 28 new COVID positive cases.