SPRINGFIELD – Fifty-one counties are at risk for COVID-19 in northern Illinois. Region 1, which includes Rockford and Winnebago County, has seen a steady yet slow rise in COVID-19 cases since late September when the region first reached an infection rate of 8%. As of Oct. 20th, the region’s seven-day rolling positivity rate for the virus is at 11.7%. Starting Sunday 25th there will be more restrictions for the number of people gathering while socially distancing in one place. In bars, the party size will be reduced from 10 to 6. The maximum of gatherings inside and outside is 10 and will be used in professional, social, and religious gatherings, however this restriction does not apply to students participating in in-person learning. For indoor gatherings it’s fewer than 25 at maximum capacity. 

“These mitigations do not apply to schools or polling places. Gov. Pritzker says the other restrictions, which went into place on Oct. 3, will still be in place.”

The cause for the rising cases are people hosting private gatherings in their homes. These could be anything from Weddings to Funerals to college parties. Many of the cases originate from people in their 20s.

(Compiled from 13WREX by Hailey Skaggs, original reporting by Andrew Carrigan)