JACKSON CO (WSIL)---The Jackson County Health Department is looking for someone to fill one of its contact tracing positions.
Since the Jackson County Contact Tracing team went from 18 people to 6 and a half people, cases have once again begun to spike.
In fact, case positivity rates in Region 5 have tripled in the last two weeks.
Region 5 is currently at 5% positivity, according to the IDPH.
In Jackson County, cases are also on the rise, as COVID-19 and the Delta variant mostly infect the unvaccinated population.
Health officials say cases have been on the rise since Independence Day.
"Three weeks ago in Jackson County for example, we had four active cases of COVID. So very low. Now we are up over 50 active cases, unfortunately. So we have seen quite a bit of increase, not only in test positivity, but cases are on the increase. So that is cause for concern," said Bart Hagston from the Jackson County Health Department.
Hagston also said hospitalizations for COVID are rising, but not quite something to worry about yet.
As hospitalizations slowly climb, the Delta variant has been identified in Southern Illinois and acts more quickly than regular COVID-19.
With the Delta variant, those unvaccinated are even more at risk.
"Activities that were once considered safe become less safe if you are unvaccinated. So going to the grocery store, or something along those lines that may have been relatively safe as long as you weren't getting in people's close bubble for very long may be less save now," said Hagston.
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