File Photo – Dr. Ngozi O. Ezike. | Photo: Colin Boyle/My Block, My Hood, My City

The state health department has reported 15 COVID-19 outbreaks in McHenry County schools and two outbreaks in Lake County schools so far in September.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) provides data on school outbreaks in an online dashboard, which is updated once a week.

IDPH includes outbreaks “that have been identified by the local health department to have two or more COVID-19 cases who may have a shared exposure on school grounds and are from different households.”

According to data updated on Friday, the McHenry County K-12 schools with outbreaks include Chauncey H. Duker School, Conley Elementary School, Edgebrook Elementary School, Greenwood Elementary School, Hannah Beardsley Middle School, Harry Jacobs High School, Johnsburg High School, Marengo Community High School, Martin Elementary School, Prairie Grove Junior High School, Spring Grove Elementary School, St. John the Baptist Catholic School and Valley View Elementary School.

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Two outbreaks were reported this month at Chauncey H. Duker School and Hannah Beardsley Middle School.

The first outbreak at Chauncey H. Duker earlier this month had 5-10 cases while the second outbreak later in the month had less than 5 cases.

At Hannah Beardsley, the first outbreak had less than 5 cases and the second outbreak had 5-10 cases.

5-10 cases were reported at Conley Elementary School. All other schools experienced outbreaks of less than 5 cases, data shows.

Students only were among the reported cases at Chauncey H. Duker’s first outbreak and at both of Hannah Beardsley’s outbreaks.

The cases at Greenwood Elementary School, Harry Jacobs High School, Marengo Community High School, Martin Elementary School, Prairie Grove Junior High School and St. John the Baptist Catholic School were also only among students.

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Staff and students were among the reported cases at Chauncey H. Duker’s second outbreak, along with Conley Elementary School, Johnsburg High School and Valley View Elementary School.

Staff only were among the reported cases at Edgebrook Elementary School and Spring Grove Elementary School.

Data shows all outbreaks, except ones at Johnsburg High and Prairie Grove Junior High, originated in classrooms.

The outbreak at Johnsburg High originated at school-sponsored sports and the outbreak at Prairie Grove High originated on a bus.

The Lake County K-12 schools that experienced outbreaks are Cherokee Elementary School and Lakes Community High School.

The outbreaks at both schools had less than 5 cases among students and originated in classrooms.

Data shows cases among ages 5-22 have been increasing since July but have recently started decreasing.

As of Tuesday, the positivity rate for Region 9, which includes Lake and McHenry counties, was 3.5%.

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As of Thursday, data shows intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability for both counties was at 16%. ICU bed availability has been below the 20% threshold for 12 consecutive days since September 12.

Hospitalizations for both counties began decreasing on September 14.

55.51% of McHenry County’s population and 57.34% of Lake County’s population are fully vaccinated, according to state data.

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients for the state went down to 1,926 on Thursday.

64.23% of Illinois residents over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated, 65.67% of Illinois residents over the age of 18 are fully vaccinated and 82.23% of Illinois residents over the age of 65 are fully vaccinated.