SPRINGFIELD – The COVID positivity rates have been climbing rapidly once again. Last week, the Illinois Department of Public Health stated that the region’s positivity rate is 16%. 16.8%, as of November 5, is the highest for any other region in the state. Region 1’s positivity rate has been increasing since Sept 25 when they started at 8%. IDPH will continue to track Region’s 1 (Rrockford) positivity rates, and if the rates will continue to grow, the mitigations will be tighter. Restrictions and mediations will be relaxed once the Illinois Department of Health deems region 1 of Illinois to be in the decline with regards to COVID cases.

   Here is the breakdown of county-by-county positivity rates which were reported by the IDPH: 

• Boone County: 21.1%
• Carroll County: 20.1%
• DeKalb County: 12.1%
• Jo Daviess County: 15%
• Lee County: 17.4%
• Ogle County: 17.6%
• Stephenson County: 17.7%
• Whiteside County: 18.3%
• Winnebago County: 17.2%

(Compiled from 13WREX for the Guilford Voyager by Za’Nia Harris, original reporting by Andrew Carrigan)