COVID-19 numbers headed in wrong direction in New Trier area

While the county’s COVID-10 transmission level is still marked as “low,’ New Trier Township is beginning to see another uptick in the virus’ spread

The average positivity rate in the township’s five primary communities (Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Kenilworth and Northfield) was 3.7 percent as of Friday, April 1, about double what it was about two weeks ago (1.88 percent on March 17), according to data from Northwestern Medicine. The rate was 2.56 percent at the end of February, when the county rescinded its indoor-mask mandate and proof-of-vaccine requirement. 

The new-case rate in the Township reached 250 per 100,000 people on March 28, according to Northwestern Medicine. The Illinois Department of Public Health gives a case rate above 100 per 100,000 its highest designation of “substantial; however, during the latest winter surge, the township’s new-case rate eclipsed 1,000 per 100,000 people. 

Still, the local positivity (3.7%) and new-case rate (250 per 100,000) are significantly higher than both the county (2.1% and 51 as of March 31) and the state (1.7 and 66 as of April 1). For their parts, Cook County and Illinois are seeing smaller transmission increases.

The positivity rate in the township was last above 4 percent positivity in early February and surpassed 15 percent during the winter surge.  

Wilmette saw the steepest increase in transmission. The town marked 59 new cases of COVID-19 from March 24-31 with a localized positivity of 4.5 percent. The new cases recorded in Wilmette during the final two weeks of March more than tripled the recorded cases in the first two weeks of the month.

In that span, cases have also climbed in Winnetka and Glencoe, as well, but more subtly. From March 20-26, Winnetka reported 23 new cases and Glencoe 16, according to county data.

New Trier High School last recorded its internal COVID-19 data prior to spring break on March 21. At the time, 20 individuals (students and teachers) reported having a case of COVID-19 — the most since Jan. 31.

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