October 28, 2020
Dear Neighbor,
Today the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) informed Lake County that due to the recent increases of COVID-19 cases in Region 9 (Lake County and McHenry County), our region will be moving into mitigation on Saturday, October 31 at 12:01 a.m.
Click here to read the Governor's Press Release
What Does This Mean for Region 9?
Unfortunately, our bar and restaurant owners and employees are most affected by the increases in cases. As outlined by Governor Pritzker and IDPH, mitigation measures are as follows:
- All bars and restaurants close at 11pm and may reopen no earlier than 6am the following day
- No indoor service
- All bar and restaurant patrons should be seated at tables outside
- No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)
- Tables should be 6 feet apart
- No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
- No dancing or standing indoors
- Reservations required for each party
- No seating of multiple parties at one table
- Meetings, social events and gatherings (including weddings, funerals, potlucks, etc.), are limited to the lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity, both indoors and outdoors.
Click here for more information on Illinois' mitigation plan
What Resources Are Available For Our Most Impacted Businesses?
Through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Governor Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly is providing a Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program to provide economic relief for small businesses hit hardest by COVID-19. Funding may be used to help businesses with working capital expenses, including payroll costs; rent; utilities; and other operational costs.
Applications are now live and specific factors are taken into account to prioritize businesses, including those directly affected by regional mitigations.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) also offers loans.
Why Is IDPH Moving Region 9 Into Mitigation?
Region 9 is likely to move into mitigation due to IDPH's standard of three consecutive days greater than or equal to 8% test positivity rate on a 7 day rolling average.
Our region currently has an 8.4% positivity average, an increase from 4.8% in September and from 3.1% percent in June. COVID-related hospital admissions have also surged, now three times as high as September and five times as high as June.
While Lake County has a positivity rate of 7% and McHenry County has a positivity rate of 12.1%, both counties have "substantial community transmission".
Lake County's community transmission is 169 per 100,000. (100+ cases per 100,000 is considered to be substantial; 50 cases per 100,000 is considered to be moderate).
To view specific details about your zip code, visit Lake County Health Department's school dashboard. Please note that this dashboard is populated using IDPH data and that due to delays in the receipt of that data, the LCHD information may be impacted.
Click here for more information on Lake County risk metrics
When Can Region 9 Move Out Of Mitigation?
IDPH will continue to track the positivity rate in regions requiring additional mitigations over a 14-day monitoring period to determine if mitigations can be relaxed, if additional mitigations are required, or if current mitigation should remain in place:
- If the positivity rate averages less than or equal to 6.5% over a 3-day period, the region will return to Phase 4 mitigations under the Restore Illinois Plan.
- If the positivity rate averages between 6.5%-8%, IDPH will continue to monitor the region to determine if additional mitigations are needed.
- If the positivity rate averages greater than or equal to 8% after 14 days, more stringent mitigations may be applied to further reduce spread of the virus, which could include reducing capacity on organized group recreation, fitness or other activities supported by local contact tracing data and temporary suspension of certain activities.
What Can We Do To Help?
If you need help, please remember to use Lake County's 211 for assistance with housing, utility payments, food, and many other items.
- Please shop local and support our local businesses.
- For a partial list of restaurants offering outdoor dining, check out Visit Lake County.
- Visit your local Chamber of Commerce website and municipality for information about area's businesses
- Wear a mask
- Watch your distance
- Wash your hands
Click here for more information on COVID-19 safety guidelines
We all play a part in keeping businesses open and our friends and family safe. We are fortunate in Lake County to have a Community Based Testing Site in Waukegan; mobile testing sites; medical and health partners offering COVID-19 virus and antibody testing; a grant from the state for increased contact tracing; and of course our nationally recognized Lake County Health Department. We will continue to work together to help Lake County recover.
Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
As always, it is an honor to represent you.
Take care and stay healthy,
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