The Clinton County Health Department on Thursday that the state had moved the county into the orange category due to rising risk metrics for COVID-19, meaning it isn’t meeting targets identified by virus mitigation experts.
According to a press release from the county health department, an orange designation indicates the risk of transmission of COVID-19 is higher than in other areas of the state and higher than it has been in our area previously.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s metrics, counties that are meeting targets developed by the mitigation experts are considered blue, while those that are not are considered orange.
Clinton County health officials are reminding everyone to practice social distancing, wearing masks in public, avoiding large gatherings, self-monitoring for symptoms, and seeking medical attention promptly when symptoms develop.
The health department says it’s working closely with the Illinois Department of Public Health to determine what additional mitigation strategies may need to be implemented, should the county remain in the high-risk category.
Clinton County on Thursday reported eight new cases of COVID-19, with100 are of those individuals in isolation and three who are hospitalized. 320 others have been released from isolation.
Jefferson County has also been moved into the “orange” category due to its increasing numbers.
On Friday, Jefferson County health officials reported six new positive cases of coronavirus, bringing their total to 323, with 84 people in isolation, 207 have been released from isolation and 20 who have died.
Of the six new cases, two are in men in their 20s, one in his 50s, and one in his 60s, along with a woman in her 50s and a woman in her 70s.
The Marion County Health Department on Thursday reported two residents who tested positive for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). They are a male in his 20s and a female in her teens. Both are doing well and are on isolation.
Currently there are 172 residents of Marion County who have had lab-confirmed positive tests, with 28 of those residents remaining in isolation and 144 who have been released from isolation. Another 90 residents are in quarantine after they had close contact with a person who had tested positive for the virus.
Washington County health officials are reporting 69 lab-confirmed cases of the virus, with three of those in isolation, three hospitalized, 62 who have been released from isolation and one man has died.
Fayette County continues to report 72 residents have tested positive for COVID-19, with 15 who remain in isolation, 54 who have been released, and three who have died.