DEVELOPING
KANKAKEE – Additional COVID-19 restrictions are expected to go into effect for Region 7 for the second time in the past 60 days.
Governor J.B. Pritzker is expected to make the announcement at the daily COVID-19 press conference at 2:30 pm this afternoon. The Governor hosted a conference call with local county leaders earlier Tuesday morning. Tuesday marked the 9th consecutive day of increases to the area’s rolling seven-day positivity levels.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reports over the past 7 days of reporting data, Kankakee County has seen local daily positivity levels rise above 8.0% twice, reaching as high as 9.9% on October 11th. As of Tuesday, Kankakee County’s rolling seven-day positivity rating was 7.3%.
By comparison, neighboring Will County has reported five days of daily positivity ratings above the 8.0% warning level, reaching as high as 10.5% locally. Will County’s seven-day rolling positivity rating sat at 8.9% Tuesday afternoon.
Among the new restrictions expected to be announced Tuesday afternoon include an end to indoor service at bars and restaurants with outside bar areas closing by 11 pm.
Reservations will be required for all diners in Region 7 with limits to gatherings of 25 people or 25% of overall room capacity.
The mitigations tactics were first set into place by the Illinois Department of Public Health earlier this year as a means of mitigation to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 3,714 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 41 additional deaths. On Monday, the Kankakee County Health Department reported 93 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 locally throughout the weekend.
