CITY ADDS 3 STATES TO LIST, WARNS INDIANA MAY BE NEXT

The Illinois Department of Public Health on Tuesday announced that another 1,492 state residents have tested positive for COVID-19, with another 39 dying of the virus in the last day.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Department of Public Health added three more states to its 14-day quarantine list — and hinted Illinois’ neighbor to the east could soon be added too.

Since the pandemic first took hold, 8,064 Illinoisans have died of the virus. The state has seen more than 236,000 positive cases.

As of Tuesday, the state’s test positivity rate is 4.3%, according to IDPH. At last count, more than 1,500 people in Illinois are hospitalized for the coronavirus.

Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the city Department of Public Health, said the three states added to the 14-day travel quarantine list — North Carolina, Hawaii and Nebraska — bring the total number to 21, in addition to Puerto Rico. Changes to the list are announced on Tuesdays and take effect the following Friday.

Arwady also warned Indiana could soon be added.

A state makes the list when it sees 15 positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. And though Indiana passed that threshold in recent days, Arwady said the city held off instituting the quarantine rule — in part, because of changes to Indiana’s data reporting.

Meanwhile, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office on Tuesday announced more stringent measures would soon be in place in several downstate counties as the area grapples with a sustained 9.6% positivity rate.

To stem the tide in Region 4, which includes the St. Louis area, bars and restaurants no longer will be allowed to serve customers indoors, and establishments must close by 11 p.m. Casinos must also close by 11 p.m., and all social gatherings must be limited to 25 people or fewer, or remain below 25% of a room’s capacity. Those new measures go into effect Wednesday.