With coronavirus cases and positivity rates on the rise in the state of Illinois, officials are urging residents not to let their guard down in the fight to stop the spread of the virus.
Speaking during a press conference Monday, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker urged residents to back up their guards, saying individual measures to help push against the spread of the virus in recent weeks would be serious.
“If you’re tired and you take your guard down, now is the time to pull it back,” Pritzker said during a press conference Monday. “Things are getting worse now. Now is the time to wear a mask wherever you go, shoot your flu shot, make unnecessary trips or gatherings, and be extra careful to stay six feet away from others, especially in public. “
In a comment Monday, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot echoed similar sentiments.
“I understand that a lot has been sacrificed over these many months, and I can understand the factor of fatigue in people.” “But people, seeing what we’re seeing, and the incredible increase in case rates every day, this is not the time for us to tolerate covid-1 fatigue. This is the time to be more diligent and determined to fight this deadly disease. ”
The state of Illinois has seen a significant increase in both coronavirus cases and positivity rates, prompting Pritzker and Lightfoot warnings. The state has registered more than 25,000 new cases of the virus in the last seven days, a new record in a span of seven days. The state has also reported that its seven-day positivity rate has risen to ward..4%, the highest number since the beginning of June.
There has been an increase in positivity in all 11 healthcare regions in Illinois, with additional reductions and regulations in Region 1 in northwestern Illinois and region 5 in southeastern Illinois. 7 and the region, which includes Will and Kankaki counties, includes Kane and Dupage counties, may also see additional restrictions this week.
Government of Illinois. JB Pritzker addresses the media during his daily press conference on Monday.
Even with those metrics and numbers, Pritzker says the state is equipped to handle surges in cases.
“Our greatest asset at the moment is our ability to understand specific areas of concern around our state through comprehensive contact tracing, which means that unlike spring, we can work with a more targeted approach to respond to outbreaks,” the governor said.
Pritzker cited the state’s rapid increase in testing capacity, with state labs recording nearly 900,000 tests in the past two weeks alone, and more advanced techniques to help treat COVID-19 patients, as hospital admissions and ICU use remain at peak levels. There is a virus earlier this year.
Officials say the state will not be able to reduce the person and change the procedure, with additional measures and the implementation of new technologies and techniques, officials say, and those officials are urging people to buy face coverings and other safety measures.
“Your actions don’t matter,” said Dr. Ingozi Isaac, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. “If you wear your mask and you can maintain your distance, you will help prevent the spread of this virus.”
Lightfoot agreed, calling the moment a “critical trend point” in the state’s fight against coronavirus.
“Now it’s time for us to make a little change,” he said. “This is a time for each of us to dig deeper and work harder. If we do not see a drastic change in our numbers, we will not hesitate to take the necessary steps to save our city and our people. “
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