As the pandemic enters a new wave prompting lockdowns across the world, daily cases in the United States surpassed 100,000 for the first time on November 4. In Lake County, we have had over 23,000 confirmed cases, and over 520 confirmed deaths. Our recovery rate is currently over 96 percent. 

In Region 9, which includes Lake and McHenry counties, COVID-19 testing positivity surpassed the state’s threshold of 8% on October 23, and this rate has been increasing steadily. As a result, the state implemented Tier 1 mitigation measures on October 31. Every region in the state is now currently in mitigation. Mitigation measures are restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. In our region, these mitigation measures include:

• Indoor dining and bar service is prohibited 
• Bars, restaurants, and gaming facilities must close at 11 p.m. 
• Gathering sizes both indoors and outdoors are limited to 25 people or 25% of room capacity, whichever is less. 

On November 6, Lake County entered orange ‘warning’ level for COVID-19 risk on the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) county-level risk map. This is the third time Lake County has entered warning status. A total of 75 counties in Illinois are currently at warning status. o Based on data from October 25-31, four metrics have caused this designation:

• Our weekly incidence rate increased from 170 cases per 100,000 residents to 284 cases per 100,000 residents; 
• Lake County’s testing positivity rate increased from 7% to 9.3%; 
• Weekly deaths increased from 7 to 12 deaths; 
• Weekly hospital admissions for COVID-19-like illness increased from 72 to 102. 

The pandemic is far from over, but we all know how to keep ourselves and others safe. Follow the 3 Ws consistently: Wear a mask, Wash your hands, and Watch your distance. 

As we approach the holidays, please carefully consider the risks to your family and others as you make plans. Consider virtual celebrations over in-person gatherings and take extra precautions to ensure you can keep your distance and wear masks when multiple households come together. 

The Health Department continues to work with businesses and many other facets of the community to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19. For more information, please visit the Lake County Coronavirus website, www.lakecountyil.gov/coronavirus. 

The Health Department is preparing for mass vaccination of the public when a COVID-19 vaccine is made available. Please sign up now to receive email alerts from the Health Department at https://bit.ly/lccovid-19 (English) or https://bit.ly/lccovid-19-es (Spanish).