By Jerry Nowicki
Capitol News Illinois
Four days after Stark County announced its first confirmed case of COVID-19, Illinois officials announced on Tuesday the largest single-day increase of novel coronavirus-caused deaths in the state.
The first Stark County case was announced on April 3 and involves a male in his 50s from Wyoming.
Henry County’s latest count of cases stood at 14 on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s 73 fatalities in 14 counties – Champaign, Christian, Cook, DuPage, Ford, Kane, Kankakee, Lake, Madison, McHenry, Monroe, Tazewell, Will and Winnebago – bring Illinois’ total to 380. Coles, Lawrence, Richland and Shelby counties each reported their first confirmed cases of the virus Tuesday.
Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said 1,287 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours. Through Tuesday there were 13,549 cases in 77 counties.
Just last Saturday, Illinois had become the 10th state in the U.S. to top 10,000 confirmed cases.
There are 12 confirmed cases in Peoria County and one death. Knox County still has just one confirmed case.
The Peoria County fatality was a male in his 90s who lived at Peoria’s Bickford senior living facility.
The latest Illinois deaths occurred in people aged in their 30s to their 90s in
14 counties – Champaign, Christian, Cook, DuPage, Ford, Kane, Kankakee,
Lake, Madison, McHenry, Monroe, Tazewell, Will and Winnebago.
Coles, Lawrence, Richland and Shelby counties each reported their first
confirmed cases. The number of actual cases is likely higher, as testing is not widely available, Gov. JB Pritzker said.
About 19 percent of the 68,732 people tested for the virus in Illinois have tested positive, he added.
In an IDPH survey of those who received a positive COVID-19 test seven days ago, 43 percent responded they had already recovered, Ezike said, calling it “positive news.”
Pritzker added “these terrible numbers” should caution Illinoisans that the
novel coronavirus pandemic is “deadly serious.”
Residents should continue to follow the stay-at-home and social distancing orders, frequently wash their hands, sanitize regularlyused objects and surfaces and wear a face covering when going outside, the governor said.
The governor said he has not “encouraged” law enforcement personnel to enforce the stay-at-home order, clarifying that local governments largely have that discretion.
Pritzker said the share of intensive care beds occupied by COVID-19 patients in Illinois grew to 43 percent, from 38 percent last Tuesday.
Pritzker also announced a member of his staff – someone who does not
have regular contact with the governor or Ezike – has COVID-19. Pritzker also said workers in Illinois whose jobs are deemed essential are eligible for increased state child care services under the state’s Child Care Assistance Program. Learn more online at DHS.illinois.gov/helpishere.
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