The Peoria City/County Health Department is issuing a health advisory after state public health officials declared the county one of four statewide currently at a "warning level" for the coronavirus.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported Peoria, LaSalle, Randolph, and Adams counties are now considered to be at warning levels for increasing COVID-19 risks that may warrant new restrictions if left unchecked.
Peoria City/County Health Department Administrator Monica Hendrickson said the state flagged a high number of new cases per 100,000 residents, and a rising admission rate of new ER cases among people experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms in its warning for the county. Two or more risk factors qualify a county for a warning.
While outbreaks were recently reported at the Peoria County Jail and at Bradley University, Hendrickson said a wider trend among younger people is the larger concern.
In recent weeks, the county reported large increases in new cases among people ages 29 or younger, particularly those attending large parties with no protection measures, or traveling out of state.
Hendrickson said it's too soon to tell if last week's "roving street party" on Peoria's riverfront will play a role, but she said some cases were traced back to recent parties in Dunlap, Chillicothe, and Bartonville. She said while younger people are generally asymptomatic or experience milder symptoms, many unwittingly become "super-spreaders" of the virus.
"We do want everyone to recognize the fact that this is an equal opportunity virus. It impacts everyone," she said. "If you're young and healthy, you might have those mild symptoms, but you're bringing it home to your families and loved ones, and you don't know how the virus will progress with them."
Many new cases also are linked to recent travel to Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas, or Florida--all states with fewer protective measures than Illinois.
"Reconsider traveling to areas that are experiencing high rates of activity related to COVID, or have communities where they do not enforce or have various protective measures like they do in Illinois," she said.
To tamp down on new cases, the health department's advisory recommends wearing face coverings properly over the nose and mouth in public spaces, as well as within six feet of anyone who doesn't live in the immediate household.
The advisory also recommends maintaining a distance of six feet whenever possible, avoiding large, in-person gatherings, and staying home if you are sick or while awaiting COVID-19 test results, even if symptoms are mild.
"The way to consider this health advisory is that we are putting ourselves on notice," said Hendrickson. "And recognizing the fact that the indicators we're seeing, if not checked, will continue to progress us toward a direction we do not want to go towards."
If numbers do not improve soon, Hendrickson said some "Tier I" interventions would be considered, tailored to Peoria County based on evidence turned up by contact tracing. Measures could include things like restricting outdoor travel sports, or decreasing capacity at restaurants or retail establishments.
Peoria County reported 950 total cases since the beginning of the outbreak on Friday. That's an increase of 27 since yesterday. The Tri-County region of Peoria, Woodford, and Tazewell counties is reporting 1,276 cases and 41 deaths.
Hendrickson said while Friday's health advisory is for Peoria County, Tazewell and Woodford County residents also should heed the advice, given the interconnectedness of the region.
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