Region 9 Mitigation
North Suburban Region 9, which includes Lake and McHenry Counties, is nearing thresholds set by the State of Illinois that could trigger new mitigation measures in the region. We are urging the public to take action to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The Region 9 testing positivity rate is 7.7% as of October 20. If our region surpasses 8% testing positivity for 3 consecutive days, the State will impose mitigation measures in our region.
Mitigation measures are restrictions such as limiting bar and restaurant service and the sizes of social gatherings. If Region 9 enters mitigation, the Governor will announce the date that mitigation measures will take effect.
Commit to the 3 Ws, which we know can slow the spread of COVID-19:
- Wear a mask
- Wash your hands
- Watch your distance
 On Monday, October 19, the Health Department issued a recommendation that public and private K-12 schools in Lake County transition to virtual learning.
Under the Northern Illinois Return to School Metrics plan used in Lake County, school learning model recommendations are based on the 7 day rolling average daily incidence rate as follows:
- Substantial community transmission = >14 cases per 100,000 residents = Virtual learning model.
- Moderate community transmission = ≥7 and ≤14 cases per 100,000 residents = Hybrid learning model.
- Minimal community transmission = <7 cases per 100,000 residents = In-person learning model.
The Health Department’s recommendation will return to hybrid learning once the county returns to the ‘moderate’ level for 7 consecutive days. Under the plan, the Health Department is also monitoring COVID-19 testing turnaround time, which has been relatively stable since the summer.
The Lake County Schools Decision Dashboard is updated daily Mondays through Fridays at www.lakecountyil.gov/c19schools. The dashboard includes charts for the 7-day rolling average daily incidence rate, COVID-19 testing turnaround time, and zip-code level incidence and testing positivity data.
Since issuing the recommendation, we have received many questions and concerns from our residents, such as:
Is this a mandate or just a recommendation?
This is a recommendation, based on COVID-19 levels in our community. School districts have the authority to decide their learning model.
Is this because of cases or outbreaks in schools?
No, this recommendation is due to our daily incidence rate reaching “substantial community transmission” levels. Substantial spread in our community increases the risks in congregate settings, such as a school.
Why is the Health Department recommending this when children are not a high-risk group for COVID-19?
Children may not be at high risk for complications from COVID-19, but they can still get and spread COVID-19. The virus spreads easily within households, and children may have more vulnerable people living in their household. Staff at schools and their families may also be at higher risk.
Does the recommendation include daycares or preschools?
No. This recommendation is for K-12 schools.
Why are bars and restaurants permitted to stay open when you are recommending virtual learning?
The State will impose mitigation measures in Lake and McHenry counties when we reach certain thresholds, and these will include restrictions on bars and restaurants.
The Health Department recommends that people in every setting follow the 3 Ws consistently – wear a mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance – to slow the spread of COVID-19. Residents should leave an establishment if safety precautions are not being followed and may contact our Environmental Health team with concerns at (847) 377-8020.
 Every week, the Lake County Health Department will be sharing the most frequently asked questions about the coronavirus pandemic. This week, we received the following questions:
What are antigen tests? Are antigen tests now being used in the State’s metrics? How does this affect the data?
There are two different types of diagnostic COVID-19 tests, molecular and antigen. A diagnostic test can show if you have an active coronavirus infection and should take steps to quarantine or isolate yourself from others.
Molecular tests detect the virus’ genetic material. Antigen tests detect specific proteins on the surface of the virus. Specimens used for molecular and antigen tests are collected with a nasal or throat swab or using saliva.
While antigen tests have recently been included in the state testing total, most tests being used throughout Illinois are molecular tests. Antigen test results are not included in case counts or in testing positivity rates. A breakdown of testing can be found on the IDPH Testing Page.
What is herd immunity? Should we use this strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic?
The term herd immunity refers to the resistance to the spread of a disease within a population. This resistance comes from a high proportion of the population being immunized. Herd immunity is not scientifically or ethically justifiable strategy. So-called ‘natural herd immunity’ achieved by letting COVID-19 infect our population unchecked could lead to millions of deaths. We are still learning about the long-term health effects of COVID-19. There is also evidence that immunity from COVID-19 may not be long-lasting, and people may get re-infected again in the future.
Watch the World Health Organization’s statement on herd immunity.
What does the Health Department recommend for Halloween?
Please visit the IDPH page on Halloween Festivities and how to take precautions. Many Halloween festivities include close contact, which is known to spread COVID-19. The safest course of action is to stay home and limit activities to members of your household. Consider alternatives to trick-or-treating and other high contact activities.
If you do plan to trick-or-treat, bring hand sanitizer, practice social distancing, and wear a mask that covers the mouth and nose (not a costume mask) while out. If you are passing out candy, consider spreading candy out on a table for kids to grab or make goodie bags in order to limit the contact between yourself and others.
 During the COVID-19 pandemic, health departments across the United States have been putting out creative messages encouraging people to take precautions to stay safe. We like to highlight different health departments whose messages inspire us. Recently, the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services has inspired us with their ability to adapt.
We highlighted the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic for their creative messaging that featured Alaskan wildlife. This time we are highlighting the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services for the way that they adapted their COVID-19 messaging as cases continue to rise. Their messaging encourages residents to re-evaluate their social bubbles, re-consider risky plans, and make conscious efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Lake County COVID-19 Cases
As of October 23, 2020, 20,071 Lake County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, including 508 deaths.
Our Coronavirus Data Hub provides data and resources for our county, including cases and deaths, tests performed, demographic data, and an interactive map and charts.
View the Lake County, IL Coronavirus Data Hub
IDPH Data Delays
Recently, we have experienced delays in the data that powers our COVID-19 Data Hub. Some metrics, including case numbers and diagnostic turnaround time, are seeing greater lag than usual. These issues are due to delays in reporting from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
We know that our dashboards are an important tool for decision making and many within the community rely on this data. We are working with the IDPH to provide you up-to-date information as soon as possible.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a spike in abuse cases and increased isolation for those struggling. Visit the #ListeningFromHome campaign by NoMore.org to learn about Domestic Violence and COVID-19.
If you or someone you know needs help, call 211 or contact the A Safe Place 24-hour hotline at 1-800-600-SAFE. A Safe Place provides services to men, women, children, the elderly, LGBT community members, and teens. They are ready to take your call.
Learn more about COVID-19 and domestic violence
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Do you have questions? The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has established a COVID-19 hotline and email address to answer questions from the public:
For additional information from the IDPH, visit: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus
Community Guidance and Resources
Protect yourself and your community. Our Information for Specific Groups page is now Community Guidance and Resources. This page is more user-friendly and has information to help residents stay safe and informed.
Communication Resources
We need your help to keep our communities healthy and safe. The Lake County Health Department, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer free resources including fact sheets, flyers, posters, and videos.
View communication resources
Forwarded this email? Sign up to receive COVID-19 updates directly from the Lake County Health Department.
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