COVID Infection Numbers Rising, no "Bridge Phrase" Yet
A health care worker in Cook County receives the COVID-19 vaccine.
In many parts of the state, COVID-19 positivity is back on the rise. While officials don’t know yet if the rise in positivity is a “blip” or part of a new surge, the state said Monday it won’t be entering the “bridge phase” to increase re-opening around the state.
Per an Illinois Department of Public Health release Monday, the state has vaccinated 69% of seniors age 65 or older. Under Governor JB Pritzker’s latest plan, the bridge phase would kick in when 70% of seniors are vaccinated and there was no other downturn in metrics. But, because hospitalization metrics continue to trend upward, the state has not yet met the conditions to move to the bridge phase.
On Friday, Pritzker said he is concerned about the increase in test positivity around the state.
“This is very concerning to us and it makes us take a pause here to evaluate these numbers,” Pritzker said. “What we want to do, most of all, is make sure is this a blip in the numbers or a short surge that’s taking place that will come back down, or is this something that could have some sustaining features to it? In which case, we want to be extra careful.”
In latest IDPH numbers, Peoria County’s positivity rate has jumped to over 6%, while neighboring Fulton County has topped 8%. Menard County, outside of Springfield, is at 7.1% and Woodford County, outside Peoria, has a positivity around 6%.