(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Illinois “positivity rate” for novel coronavirus keeps edging upward, suggesting the spread of the disease continues.
The Illinois Department of Public Health on Monday reported the latest positivity rate — the percentage of COVID tests coming back positive — has risen to 3.8%.
That is the highest rate since June 12, when it was at 4%, according to agency records. In early July, the positivity rate had dropped to 2.4%.
The creep upward comes as the number of new confirmed coronavirus cases across Illinois persistently stays above 1,000. State government has coordinated higher levels of testing, which is one factor that can drive up the positivity rate.
But health officials have rapped four Illinois counties for allowing COVID-19 metrics to trigger a “warning." IDPH says people are engaging in “risky behavior" in these regions.
On Monday, the state reported 1,231 new coronavirus cases, including 18 deaths related to COVID-19.
Although the Illinois positivity rate inches upward — a potentially bad sign — it’s a far cry from the hot spot of Florida, which has a positivity rate of more than 19%, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The positivity rate reflects 7 days’ worth of testing data.
Chicago has a travel order in effect asking visitors or residents coming in from designated hot-spot states to self-quarantine for two weeks.