KANKAKEE – The Kankakee County Health Department reported 63 new cases of COVID-19 following the Labor Day Holiday weekend.
Among new cases reported over the weekend included 10 teenage or younger cases.
The current active case count now stands at 770. It’s the largest active case count to date in Kankakee County. There have now been 2,483 COVID-19 cases to date in the county.
Over 31% of all cases to date remain active.
As of yesterday, there were 19 people in Kankakee area hospitals with COVID-19 related illnesses. It’s the largest reported single day number for area hospitals in months.
Following the Labor Day holiday weekend, the seven-day rolling positivity rate for Region 7 dropped below the 8.0% warning threshold on Saturday to 7.4%.
Wednesday morning marked two weeks since new mitigation tactics had been put into place for Region 7, leading to the closure of indoor dining at area restaurants and bars. The Illinois Department of Public Health has said positivity rates would have to drop to less than or equal to 6.5% over 14 days for a region to return to Phase 4 under the Restore Illinois Plan.
Data from Week 35 running August 23rd to August 29th show Will County at a 9.0% positivity rating with Kankakee clocking in at 8.0% for the period.
Anti-Mask Fines for Kankakee Business on the Horizon
Tuesday night, the City of Kankakee passed an ordinance that will subject Kankakee businesses to possible fines for choosing not to enforce the wearing of masks. The State of Illinois has already given the Kankakee Health Department authority to act within the County. The new ordinance allows the City of Kankakee police to act.
Mayor Chasity Wells-Armstrong cast the tie-breaking vote.
Since mask mandates went into place, several Kankakee County businesses have been reported to the Kankakee County Health Department for not enforcing the wearing of masks in businesses.
