COVID restrictions may return in suburban Cook Co. if cases continue to rise, health officials fear
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Suburban Cook County may be on the brink of having new restrictions imposed after health officials reported a sharp increase in COVID-19 case numbers.
"We've seen over 600 new cases in suburban Cook in our jurisdiction alone," said Dr. Rachel Rubin. "And so that means that we are in the beginnings of another surge."
Now, county health officials said the uptick in cases could translate to new restrictions imposed if those numbers don't go down.
According to recent data, the most significant rise in cases is among the 20s and 30 age group, and the positivity rate nearly doubled from weeks past.
"Our overall positivity rate, I think, is now maybe about five, we were down to three and this is a big problem," Dr. Rubin said.
Despite the expansion of ongoing vaccination efforts, the rising case numbers have county officials contemplating what needs to be done.
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"We may very well have to clamp down within a matter of days. I'm not promising that one way or another," Dr. Rubin said. "We need to evaluate exactly what kinds of activities and movements are really pushing this surge."
That could mean bringing back restrictions on businesses.
"We need to continue to be safe and those are really the messages and if we need to clamp down more on our [mitigation], you know, back off a little bit on indoor kinds of activities and restaurants and fitness clubs and such like that -- we hope that it won't reach that point that we may need to do that," Dr. Rubin added.
Evanston resident Archie Ong has seen his city go through so many changes over the past year
"It's going to be a major setback, obviously, a lot of the restaurants here are struggling," Ong said. "There's been a number of restaurants that have closed so I hope, I hope it doesn't happen."
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He and his family still stay home for the most part and hopes others who may think the worse is over will do the same.
"People are getting vaccinated and thinking it's safe. I guess it is maybe safe but at the same time I think we shouldn't really relax that much," Ong added.
For now, health officials recommend keeping things outdoors while continuing to mask up and keep distance.
