School Activities, Sports Tied To Recent COVID-19 Outbreaks

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — Spring break and coronavirus outbreaks tied to school-related extracurriculars are to blame for the latest spike in COVID-19 cases in McHenry County, health officials said. In McHenry County, the highest rates of spread for COVID-19 continues to be among the 20 to 29 age group, but health officials are also seeing an increase in cases for those ages 5 to 19 years old.

“Current data suggest that we are becoming too relaxed in our behaviors, which is allowing the virus to flourish in our communities,” said Melissa Adamson, administrator for the McHenry County Department of Public Health.

On Monday, data released by the Illinois Department of Public Health showed five out of the nine recent COVID-19 outbreaks at schools across the suburbs were tied to sports, the Daily Herald is reporting. In Lake County, 22 cases were linked to two teams at Deerfield High School and one team at Caramel Catholic High School in Mundelein.

Meanwhile, there was one outbreak in McHenry County. Health officials say the outbreak at Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake was related to a non-sports activity, according to the Daily Herald.

On Friday, the seven-day rolling average for McHenry County's test positivity rate hit 9.2 percent. Since then, that rate has dropped for three days straight but was still above 8 percent — standing at 8.3 percent — as of Monday, according to Illinois Department of Public Health data.

Health officials are urging residents to remain vigilant to again slow the spread of the virus. So far, about 23 percent of the population in McHenry County has been fully vaccinated, which is below the state's average of 26 percent.

And even for those who've received their COVID-19 vaccine, health officials are still urging them to keep six-feet of distance from others, continue to wear a mask while out and about and avoiding social gatherings.

"If you’re fully vaccinated, it’s OK to gather with other fully vaccinated people, but please limit those interactions if you have yet to receive your vaccine or if it’s before the 14-day waiting period after receiving the necessary doses of vaccine," Adamson said.

While each of the COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers protection against severe illness caused by the virus, it's still not completely clear how well the vaccines prevent the virus from being passed from one person to another.

“Getting your vaccination protects you and our community, but so does wearing a mask, watching your distance and washing your hands,” Adamson said.

As of Monday, about 3.365 million Illinois residents—more than 26 percent of the total population—are fully vaccinated in Illinois. In McHenry County, more than 71,000 residents have been fully vaccinated, which amounts to 23 percent of county's the total population.

More information on COVID-19 data for McHenry County can be found on the IDPH website.