January 9, 2023 – The Illinois Department of Public Health announced that the CDC is reporting 73 counties in the state are at an elevated level for COVID-19, compared to 65 in the previous week. Of those, 28 Illinois counties are at a High Community Level, including Macon County and 45 counties are at Medium Level.
With Macon County’s continued high risk status, DPS61 is recommending masks be worn inside all of their facilities once again. On their Facebook page, the Decatur Public School District said that masks are “highly recommended” for all students, staff, parents, volunteers and visitors when inside all DPS facilities.
IDPH is reporting 16,281 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois in the week ending January 1, and 20 deaths.
“As we enter the new year, IDPH continues to closely monitor levels of COVID-19, the flu, and other respiratory illness in communities throughout Illinois,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “After the holidays, we are once again experiencing a rise in counties at elevated COVID-19 community levels, with 28 currently at High Level. As we monitor emerging variants, including a new more transmissible strain spreading in the northeastern U.S., I continue to recommend our residents take steps to prevent the spread of infection, protect those most vulnerable to serious illness, and preserve our hospital capacity. It is not too late to get your COVID-19 bivalent booster or yearly flu shot. And if you are sick, please stay home if you are able and reach out to your provider about treatments for COVID-19 and the flu.”
