State Representative Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) reacted today to Governor Pritzker’s announcement regarding mitigations placed on Health Region 1 following more than three consecutive days of a COVID-19 positivity rate above 8%.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on Monday announced the rate of positive test results had reached 8 percent in Region 1, which extends from DeKalb and Boone counties west to the Iowa border. A region that has three consecutive days of positivity rates above 8 percent is subject to increased mitigations that include limited capacity indoors and restrictions for restaurants and bars.
“These mitigations are both a setback and a wake-up call that we’re all in this together when it comes to keeping each other healthy and keeping our economy open,” Rep. Keicher said. “DeKalb County has a lower positivity rate, below the warning level, than several other counties in our region. While that is a good thing, it is frustrating that our local communities’ best efforts are not enough to avoid mitigation. Higher rates among our neighbors, particularly in Winnebago, Boone and Lee Counties are pulling us down. We should have greater independence at the county level to respond with mitigation efforts locally to trends like this.”
“My immediate concern is not only for people to remain safe from COVID but also for the workers who are directly impacted by mitigation measures. Their ability to provide for their families is being threatened through no fault of their own. This will once again put front and center the Governor’s struggles to address the failure of the department of employment security to process unemployment claims. Our office remains available to help local families in need navigate these issues.”
As of Tuesday, according to IDPH, among the nine counties in Region 1, Boone County’s seven-day rolling positivity rate is 10.7 percent, Carroll County’s is 3.8 percent, DeKalb’s is 6.9, Jo Daviess’ is 9.1, Lee’s is 9.9, Ogle’s is 6.9, Stephenson’s is 5.2, Whiteside’s is 6.4 and Winnebago’s is 8.7.