A weekly update on Covid numbers across campus and the surrounding area

Hello Knox, 

Happy February!

As a reminder, Knox data comes from the Knox Together Page, and these numbers include both staff and students. Data for the State of Illinois and Knox Country comes from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). 

When analyzing test positivity, I use the same language as the Illinois Department of Public Health. 

Minimal: Test positivity is less than 5%

Moderate: Test positivity is in between 5% and 8%

Substantial: Test positivity is over 8%

Jan. 31 – Feb. 6

Testing was closed on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 due to inclement weather. 128 tests were administered on campus last week. Of these, four were positive.

The week of Jan. 31 – Feb. 6 had a 3.1% test positivity. This is a minimal test positivity with a drop of 1.6% from the week before.

As of Friday, Feb. 6, three Knox students were in isolation on campus. This is significantly less than the 29 from the week before.

We are going to add in some new metrics this week. While the City of Galesburg does not track Covid-19 cases, the state does track by zip code. Galesburg has two zip codes. The main one, which includes Knox, is 61401, and East Galesburg is 61402.

61401 had a 5.5% test positivity last week, which is a moderate test positivity. 61402, which has a much smaller population, only performed 12 tests last week. Of those, one was positive.

Knox County had 150 new Covid-19 cases last week, resulting in a 6.7% test positivity. This is also a moderate test positivity.

The State of Illinois had a test positivity rate of 8% last week. This is a moderate test positivity rate for the first time in several weeks.  However, cases have been slowly but steadily declining every day this week.