17 New Positive COVID-19 Cases Reported in County Saturday to Monday

Effingham County Health Department Monday received notice of 17 new positive cases of Coronavirus Disease from Saturday, October 3 through Monday, October 5. There were four cases on Saturday, three cases on Sunday, and 10 cases on Monday.

Two individuals are currently hospitalized; a female in her 50s and a male in his 90s. 

Saturday's cases involved males in their 50s and 60s and females in their 20s and 60s. Sunday's cases involved a male in his 50s and females in their teens and 20s. Monday's cases involved one male in his 20s, two in their 30s, and males in their 50s and 60s, along with three females in their 30s and two females in their 50s.

The State IDPH Mobile COVID-19 Testing Unit will return to Effingham on Saturday, October 10 from 9am to 5pm. It will be located at the Effingham County Health Department, 901 W Virginia Ave, Effingham. The free drive-thru testing is open to anyone with no appointments needed. Those planning to take advantage of this free testing are asked to take along their insurance cards.

Last week, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced that it has been closely monitoring Region 6, of which Effingham County is a part. In doing this, IDPH has found that Region 6, with Champaign County included, is seeing a 2% seven-day rolling test positivity average. Without Champaign County, Region 6 is seeing 7.2%. IDPH is encouraging local leaders and communities in Region 6 to begin taking action now to reduce the test positivity rate, which includes making sure people are wearing masks in public, maintaining social distance, and not gathering in large groups.

The Effingham County Health Department asks everyone to do their part in reducing the spread of COVID by masking up properly, washing hands regularly, maintaining 6ft social distancing and avoiding large groups. For more information on Coronavirus, visit www.dph.illinois.gov/COVID-19 or www.effcohealth.org.