Illinois Friday, 574. New confirmations and possible coronavirus cases were reported, moving the statewide total to more than 700,000,000 cases since the epidemic began.
The epidemic began in March since Friday’s new case brought in a total of 705,063 cases of the virus, according to the latest data from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Additional 66 Additional deaths also increased the statewide death toll to 16,08 in the report on Friday.
The state saw a drop-saw in tests being processed over Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, with 77,130 tests performed in 24 hours, down from the last several days of the six-digit verification number in the last few days.
According to IDPH, the total number of coronavirus tests conducted in Illinois since the epidemic began is 10,289,223.
The seven-day positivity rate fell again on Friday, from 10.3% to 10.1% the day before. It was 10.6% on Wednesday, up from 10.4% on Tuesday. Friday’s decline marks the eighth day in which the positivity rate has declined in the last 10 months, after rising sharply in the last month.
The state has seen a large number of hospital admissions for the virus. Currently, 5,829 patients are hospitalized in Illinois for the virus, of which 1,215 are in intensive care unit beds and 698 are on ventilators. Although still high compared to previous epidemics, all three figures were lower than reported the previous day.
Health officials in Illinois and Chicago have spent days engaging with federal authorities and health experts in urging people to avoid travel and celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday virtually or just with members of their immediate household.
The mayor and top doctor of Chicago warned Wednesday that the holiday could be a “super-spreading event,” urging residents to leave the gathering again.
“I can put this as bluntly as I can,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot told a news conference Wednesday morning. “We’re very concerned about the Thanksgiving weekend becoming a super spread event.”
“Despite constant warnings from responsible leaders across the country, about 500 million Americans are still expected to travel this week.” “That’s why we need to double our precautions to prevent cases, hospitalizations and unfortunately the steady rise in deaths, all of which we are seeing a steady increase.”
“I urge you not to get bogged down in your usual Thanksgiving plans, to keep it confined to your home,” Lightfoot said, adding that Chicago is expected to see an additional 1,000 coronavirus deaths by the end of the year.
“Please just celebrate Thanksgiving with people close to you or far from the Internet,” she added, adding that she expected to celebrate with her 92-year-old mother and other family members but chose to celebrate differently.
“The best way for us to keep each other safe and celebrate a future Thanksgiving,” Lightfoot said. “For sure it’s really a sacrifice but in my mind it’s an expression of love.”
Lightfoot noted that there remains a stay-at-home advisory for Chicago, and asked that residents stay home as long as they need to buy groceries or work.
Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr. Alison Arwadi shared a graph showing a dramatic spike in Canadian cases after the nation’s Thanksgiving celebrations on October 12.
“After the Canadian Thanksgiving, unfortunately there has been a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in Canada and let me tell you that the rate of cases in the US right now is much worse than in Canada and we are much more likely to grow.” “So it’s not too late to change the plans you have, even tomorrow. Everything we can do as a city to limit this risk here is a victory for you, your family and Chicago.”
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