Effingham County Now at High COVID Community Level

The Effingham County Health Department Friday announced 95 new cases of COVID were reported from Friday, July 22 to Thursday, July 28.

The announcement included information from the Illinois Department of Public Health that Effingham County is now at a high COVID-19 Community Level. Effingham County Health Department's Catherine Bailey said the high level is due to the increase in COVID hospitalizations in the community, which now account for more than 10% of hospital admissions.

Bailey said that case numbers have dropped, but said that Health Department officials believe the numbers are being undercounted due to home testing and those who don't test.

Other area counties now at a high level are Clay, Coles, Cumberland, Fayette, Jasper and Shelby.

The Health Department is recommending wearing a well-fitting mask indoors in public. The masks are NOT required.

A Free COVID Testing Center is available in the white hoop building by the Effingham County Health Department office at 901 West Virginia Avenue in Effingham. Clinic hours are Monday through Friday from 9 to noon and from 2 to 3:30pm. Testing is still drive-through.

The Health Department said people that need testing should drive into the white hoop building and then to phone the Health Department at 217-342-9237 and to choose the COVID testing call option. A member of the testing team will then come out to the white hoop building for you.