Local COVID-19 Data: Township cases jump nearly 40% in two weeks as county, state urge residents to stay at home

More than 400 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in New Trier Township since Oct. 29, according to data from the state and county as of Friday, Nov. 13.

The increase of 417 makes for a 38.7 percent surge in just 14 days, and the new cases now account for 29.4 percent of all of the Township’s reported COVID-19 cases this year, a number now at 1,418. 

The growing COVID-19 activity has caused state and local officials to urge residents to remain at home. The Department of Health for Cook County issued an advisory to stay at and work from home as often as possible, as well as limit gatherings and travel, even if it is holiday-related.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is providing free COVID-19 testing at the Lincolnwood Town Center parking lot, 3333 W. Touhy Ave., through Sunday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All can be tested; no symptoms required. Walk-up and drive-up testing is available.

Since Oct. 29, Wilmette has seen 161 new cases to push its total to 605. Winnetka is next (113 new; 317 total) followed by Northfield (76; 254). Glencoe has 42 new cases (162 total) and Kenilworth 25 (80 total) since Nov. 2.

The Village of Wilmette reported Friday, Nov. 13, that its average of 13.6 new daily cases is the highest mark since the start of the pandemic in March. 

The 102 new cases reported in Winnetka in the last two weeks are more than the new cases combined from the previous 13 weeks (Aug. 6-Oct. 29).

And Glencoe has reported 33 new cases in the past five days — since Monday, Nov. 9.

The Township’s COVID-19 positivity rate (based on a seven-day rolling average) has nearly doubled since Nov. 5, going from 6.6 percent to 12 percent. 

The cases per 100,000 people, also a seven-day moving average, has climbed to 433 cases, more than six times the number at the beginning of October (below 70).

Thirteen New Trier Township deaths have been attributed to COVID-19, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner. 

While intimidating, Township data is still lower than overall suburban Cook County data: 15.2 percent positivity, 477 cases per 100,000 residents.

The state recorded 15,415 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 on Friday, Nov. 13, according to a press release.

Currently, the state reports, 5,042 residents are hospitalized with COVID-19, with 951 in the ICU. More than 400 Illinois residents are on ventilators because of COVID-19.

In the state’s Region 10, which encompasses all of suburban Cook County, there are currently 196 of 775 ICU beds available, according to data from the state. Of 885 total ventilators in the region, 609 are currently available.

The Illinois Department of Health reported that 96 counties, including Cook, out of Illinois’ 102 counties are now at “warning level,” which indicates increased risk of COVID-19.