It looks like Winnebago County citizens are getting more lax about their social distancing during this pandemic, and it is not a good thing.

I'm not blaming anyone, I totally get it. After being under strict quarantine for several weeks, a release on some restrictions has us all yearning to take advantage of it. I've done it too. My family has re-opened our "circle of trust" slightly, (aka, we're hanging out with more people than we were while quarantined), but perhaps we're all taking it a little too far.

I'm not here to lecture anyone, but I do want us all to understand that our social lives may get locked down again if we don't make a real effort to follow social distancing guidelines and consistently wear masks while out in public.  Here's why...

On Friday the Illinois Department of Health declared 13 counties in our state as "warning level for Coronavirus", and yep, Winnebago County just made the list.

According to the Illinois Department of Health, counties are designated as "warning level" when  "two or more COVID-19 risk indicators that measure the amount of COVID-19 increase".

The risk indicators are:

  • New cases per 100,000 people
  • Number of deaths
  • Weekly test positivity
  • ICU availability
  • Weekly emergency department visits
  • Weekly hospital admissions
  • Tests performed
  • Clusters

Obviously these risk indicators are ever changing, and Winnebago County's numbers could look way better next week and remove the "warning" label from our name, but they won't if we don't make the effort.

Social distance. Wear your mask. Wash your hands frequently. PLEASE.

I don't want to see restaurants, bars, stores and life shutdown in Rockford again, and I'm sure you don't either.

Catch Lil Zim on ‘Q98.5 Mornings with Lil Zim & JB’ on Q98.5 from 6:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. Follow her on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook

Social Distancing Zodiac

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