SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS — Multiple counties in southeast Illinois have been placed at a warning level for COVID-19 by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Saline, Gallatin, and White counties are just three of the 11 counties now considered to be at warning level because these areas have seen an increase in at least two of the COVID-19 risk indicators from the state’s COVID-19 Resurgence Mitigation plan.

IDPH officials say these counties have seen outbreaks associated with business operations and activities posing higher risk for disease spread, including school graduation ceremonies, a rise in cases among late teens and 20s, parties and social gatherings, people going to bars, long-term care outbreaks, clusters of cases associated with restaurants and churches, and big sports events including soccer, golf, and softball tournaments.

As of Friday morning, there are 100 active cases of COVID-19 in the three counties. There have been 92 total cases of the novel coronavirus in Saline County, 57 confirmed cases in White County, and 43 cases in Gallatin County.

The IDPH also announced 1,941 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 Friday, including 21 additional deaths. There have now been almost 179,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. 7,495 Illinoisans have died of the virus.