Hispanic residents continue to be disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and infection rates remain high for Evanston’s youngest residents. This is the conclusion of a RoundTable Analysis of demographic data released by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). COVID-19 positive test rates were stable at 1.5% for Evanston in the 4-week period ending October 13.
The number of new cases among Hispanic residents tripled to 26 in the most recent 4-week period. Infection rates among Hispanic residents more than doubled to 9.8% from 3.5% in the previous 4-week period. Hispanic residents are three times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than white residents and two times more likely than Black residents.
White residents accounted for half of new cases, in-line with their relative population size in Evanston.
Similar to periods in late summer and early fall, cases are increasingly among residents younger in age. Half of new infections were children and young adults under the age of 30 in the past 4-week period.
Test rates were stable for most age groups; positive test rates rose to 1.1% from 0.5% among 70- to 79- year-olds and fell from 1.6% to 1.0% among 40 to 49 year olds. Persons under the age of 20 have the highest percent positive test rate (3.3%). Residents over the age of 80, have the lowest rate (0.6%).
Infection rates among men edged higher. Percent positive test rates increased to 2.2% in the latest 4-week period, up from 2.0% and 1.8% during early fall and late summer. Men accounted for 60% of new cases in Evanston in the past eight weeks, higher than their population proportion of 47%, according to U.S. census figures.