New COVID-19 mitigation plan, regions announced

On July 15 a new COVID-19 mitigation plan, metrics and revised regions for monitoring the pandemic’s impact on Illinois was put forward. 

Metrics and Mitigation

The following metrics will be used to determine when the spread of the virus in a region requires additional mitigations:

• Sustained increase in 7-day rolling average (7 out of 10 days) in the positivity rate and one of the following severity indicators: 
  • Sustained 7-day increase in hospital admissions for a COVID-19 like illness.
  • Reduction in hospital capacity threatening surge capabilities (ICU capacity or medical/surgical beds < 20%).
• OR three consecutive days averaging ≥ 8% positivity rate
• The updated guidance from IDPH establishes three tiers of mitigations that could be implemented if a region were to meet the resurgence metrics.

Mitigation Plan Regions

These mitigation strategies will be applied on a regional basis. The new 11 regions for this mitigation plan are based on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Regions, which have traditionally guided IDPH in its statewide public health work. Expanding to 11 regions allows for a more granular approach in this phase of the response to COVID-19. The new regions follow county lines to account for counties that are in more than one region of the EMS system. 

The new regions include:

1. NORTH: Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, Winnebago
2. NORTH-CENTRAL: Bureau, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Kendall, Knox, La Salle, Livingston, Marshall, McDonough, McLean, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Woodford
3. WEST-CENTRAL: Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Christian, Greene, Hancock, Jersey, Logan, Macoupin, Mason, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott
4. METRO EAST: Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair, Washington
5. SOUTHERN: Alexander, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White, Williamson
6. EAST-CENTRAL: Champaign, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, De Witt, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Iroquois, Jasper, Lawrence, Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, Richland, Shelby, Vermillion
7. SOUTH SUBURBAN: Kankakee, Will 
8. WEST SUBURBAN: DuPage, Kane 
9. NORTH SUBURBAN: Lake, McHenry
10. SUBURBAN COOK: Suburban Cook 
11. CHICAGO: City of Chicago

A map of the resurgence plan regions will be available on the state's coronavirus website: www.coronavirus.illinois.gov.

 

Ameren Illinois Payment Assistance Programs

As many Illinois families continue to face financial challenges as a result of COVID-19, Ameren Illinois is offering bill payment assistance and more flexible payment options for customers who may be behind on their energy bills.

As part of their Economic Hardship Recovery Program, Ameren is encouraging customers currently in need of assistance to utilize their available resources to help save energy and reduce their bills. They are also urging customers who need assistance with paying their bills to contact Ameren to explore their payment options.

Ameren offers a number of financial assistance programs, including:

• The Illinois Energy Assistance Program to assist families with energy costs
• Ameren Illinois Fresh Start Bill Assistance Program for those facing economic hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Hardship grants for seniors and families who are experiencing financial hardship due to job loss, illness or disability
• The Warm Neighbors Cool Friends initiative to provide year-round bill payment assistance to struggling Illinois families
• Military support grants available for qualifying active members of the military and disabled veterans
• Deferred payment agreements for customers to create flexible payment arrangements if they have an outstanding balance after all applicable bill payment assistance has been applied to their accounts.