Area Counties COVID New Case Count; Big Jump in Cases in Effingham County During August

We reported Effingham County Health Department Wednesday indicated 44 new positive COVID-19 cases in the county.

As for area counties, Jasper County reported seven new cases Wednesday, Cumberland County indicated 10 new cases from the period Saturday through Tuesday, Fayette County reported six new positive cases Wednesday, Shelby County reported seven new cases Wednesday, and eight new cases were reported in Clay County Wednesday.

As for Effingham County, there has been a marked increase in the number of positive cases during the month of August.

On August 4, Effingham County Health Department had reported a total of 136 positive COVID-19 cases. The number rose to 201 as of August 11, 300 on August 18, and 453 on August 25. That's before the 44 new cases on Wednesday.

An article this week in the Wall Street Journal reported that Effingham County had the highest rate of cases by population in Illinois per 100,000 population for the week ended August 17, four times higher than the Cook County rate.

Effingham County Health Department Administrator Jeff Workman is quoted in the article, "For a long time, it seemed like it was in the urban areas, and now a lot of the urban areas are tapering off." Workman continued, 'It is frustrating, honestly. We need to somehow convey to people that they need to wear masks and social distance."