The Quad-Cities has exploded into the top 10 worst covid outbreak spots in the nation, according to data from the CDC, the New York Times reported today.

Quad-Cities Soars Into Top 10 Worst Covid Spots Nationwide, Shutdown Looming Next Week

The Quad-Cities is now among the top 10 hot spots in the United States for covid-19 spikes. (Graphic from New York Times/CDC data)

According to the data, the Illinois/Iowa Quad-Cities is now inside the top ten most rapidly spiking hot spots nationwide, roaring from number 13 to number 7 in just two days.

Illinois and Iowa hold 12 of the top 15 spots in the country, with Cedar Rapids holding at number one.

In his media address yesterday, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said that the rapidly spiking numbers statewide — with numbers in some regions doubling daily — could lead to another statewide mandatory stay-at-home order similar to the one imposed in the spring, and that he would

Quad-Cities Soars Into Top 10 Worst Covid Spots Nationwide, Shutdown Looming Next Week

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

make a determination “in the coming days.”

Illinois reported 12,702 new cases of COVID-19 and 43 additional deaths on Thursday. The total number of deaths statewide is now 10,477.

Today, the Rock Island County Health Department reported 121 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number to 6,105. Currently, 64 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19 in Rock Island County, which is an all-time high.

“If things don’t take a turn in the coming days we will quickly reach the point when some form of a mandatory stay at home order is all that will be left,” Pritzker said. “With every fiber of my being, I do not want us to get there. But right now that seems like where we are heading.”

Today, the mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot ordered city residents to stay at home and not have visitors for 30 days. She said Chicagoans should not leave their homes except to attend school, seek medical care, shop for groceries, pick up takeout food and go to work. However, she also encouraged employers to allow their employees to work from home whenever possible.

Pritzker blamed the out-of-control numbers on people and community leaders ignoring doctor-recommended mitigations. His counterpart on the Iowa side of the Quad-Cities concurred in her address to the media yesterday, noting that the Iowa side of the Q-Cs may be headed for a similar situation, and enacting new state mandates of her own.

Yesterday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds enacted a number of mask and social distancing mandates to curb the spread of covid-19, as the rising number of Quad-Cities covid-19 cases put it near the top 10 worst covid hot spots in the United States, and other Iowa communities already fill the top 10.

Local businesses have already started to shut down or enact strict procedures for entry regarding covid, with the Davenport Library system being the latest to announce this afternoon.

Quad-Cities Soars Into Top 10 Worst Covid Spots Nationwide, Shutdown Looming Next Week
Sean Leary is an author, director, artist, musician, producer and entrepreneur who has been writing professionally since debuting at age 11 in the pages of the Comics Buyers Guide. An honors graduate of the University of Southern California masters program, he has written over 50 books including the best-sellers The Arimathean, Every Number is Lucky to Someone and We Are All Characters.
Quad-Cities Soars Into Top 10 Worst Covid Spots Nationwide, Shutdown Looming Next Week

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