SPRINGFIELD (WSIL) � The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports 13 counties are now at the "warning level" for COVID-19. Five are in southern Illinois.
The counties are:
- Cass
- Coles
- Grundy
- Iroquois
- Jackson
- Monroe
- Perry
- Saline
- St. Clair
- Tazewell
- Union
- Williamson
- Winnebago
"These counties saw cases or outbreaks associated with businesses, long-term care facilities, large social gatherings, and out of state travel. There have been several instances of multiple cases among family members in the same, large household. Students returning to universities and colleges are also driving the recent increase in cases in several communities. Many students are not wearing face coverings or social distancing and are gathering in large groups and at bars," stated a release Friday from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Cass, Jackson, Perry, Saline, and St. Clair counties were also on a previous warning list issued .
According to IDPH, a county enters a warning level when it experiences an increase in two or more risk indicators from the state’s COVID-19 Resurgence Mitigation plan.
A map and information of each county’s status can be found on the IDPH website at .
IDPH also announced 2,084 new cases of COVID-19 in the state Friday, including 21 additional confirmed deaths.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 190,508 cases, including 7,613 deaths, in Illinois.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity rate is 4.1%.
