Metrics guiding mitigation figures for the Metro East continued to improve over the past few days, prompting the Illinois Department of Public Health to announce Wednesday that more restrictions could be lifted if the trend continues.
Region 4, which includes Washington, Clinton, St. Clair, Randolph and Bond counties, would be allowed to have indoor dining, groups of up to 50 and sports to resume once moved to Phase 4. Other surrounding regions in Southern Illinois were moved to the phase last week.
According to statistics, the Metro East presented a minimum threshold of available ICU beds (20 percent). It also had a seven-day positivity rate at 6.5 percent, which is within the Phase 4 guidelines.
On February 3, the IDPH announced 3,314 new COVID-19 cases, with 69 additional dates. The numbers to date are 1,134,231 total cases, 19,375 deaths, and 2,045 probable deaths. More than 16 million tests have been performed.
There were 13 new cases announced Wednesday in Washington County, which currently has 30 active and one hospitalization. The cases include one male in his 20s; one female and three males in their 30s; one female and three males in their 40s; two females in their 50s; and one female and one male in their 60s.
Total case count for the county is 1,543, since March. There have been 25 deaths (18 active, 7 released from isolation).
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