COVID-19 Update: Cases Rise in Wilmette and Illinois
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 4,554 new COVID-19 cases in the state yesterday, topping the previous highest single-day record set just one day before (4,015 cases reported Thursday).
Wilmette is not immune to these trends. In fact, Wilmette reported its highest single-day record with 12 new cases on Thursday. The most recent IDPH data reporting through Oct. 15 shows that the Village's seven-day rolling average of confirmed daily cases is 5.9 new cases per day, a significant increase from the prior week's average of 1.6 new cases per day. The IDPH data also shows the Village's seven-day rolling average for test positivity (percentage who tested positive for COVID-19) is at 6.3 percent up from the prior week of 1.9 percent.
What does this mean? Suburban Cook County (Region 10) could see more business and activity restrictions soon if key COVID-19 metrics do not improve. As of Oct. 13, the positivity rate for Region 10 was 6.3 percent. While our region is currently below the 8 percent threshold for test positivity and within the other metric thresholds that would trigger additional restrictions, there have been significant increases in key metrics in October. We need to turn this trend in the right direction!
What can you do? COVID-19 preventative measures remain critical to keeping our community healthy, safe and on track toward recovery.
Practice those Three W's:
Wear your mask
Wash your hands
Watch your distance
Consider whether activities and gatherings are "hot spots" or "safe spots." Will the event be outside or inside? Will guests be wearing masks? Will there be enough room to maintain physical distance? The bottom line is that close contact with other people increases risk.
Get your flu shot! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), getting an influenza vaccine is more important than ever this year to reduce the burden of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths on the health care system and conserve scarce medical resources for those infected with COVID-19.
