COVID-19 rates continued their steep decline in Illinois over the past week, as leaders at the state, county, and local level are reconsidering their guidelines and mitigations.
Illinois' positivity rate fell two points to 2.4%, and hospitalizations statewide dropped to almost 1,600 patients. Nearly 21,000 new cases were added, and 417 new deaths.
Across southern Illinois, positivity rates are plummeting - in some cases by half or more. Regional positivity rates are now all below 8% in the WSIU Listening area.
Local prisons are still dealing with spikes in cases - but the rate of growth is slowing, signaling the surge may be leveling off in those facilities, as well.
Governor JB Pritzker's indoor mask mandate is set to sunset on Monday, February 28.
