Public Health officials are making a last-minute plea to get together with family virtually this Thanksgiving.
State Public Health Chief Dr. Ngozi Ezike strongly urges people not to get together with friends and relatives outside your household over the Holidays. But if you decide to ignore the advice and risk spreading the virus.
“Really commit that you will separate households within that space, commit that if you are not actively eating or drinking you will have a mask on in the house, commit that if the weather allows you will move everything outdoors.”
Ezike says they fear if people ignore these warnings, there will be a big spike in COVID cases in the coming weeks, putting a major strain on Illinois Hospitals and possibly triggering more restrictions.
The Illinois Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 9,469 new cases of coronavirus disease and 125 additional deaths. The deaths include three reported Monday by the Marion County Health Department and one earlier reported in Jefferson County. There were also two deaths reported in Effingham County and six in Madison County.
The state’s positivity rate dropped a tenth of a percent to 10.4-percent. The Southern Illinois Region’s seven-day positivity up until November 21st is 12.5-percent. The Marion County rate is 16.5-percent. The Metro East Region is at 14.2-percent. The East Central Illinois seven day positivity rate is 13.4-percent.
