IL Has Highest Increase In Coronavirus Cases In Single Day

ILLINOIS — Illinois continues to increase its coronavirus testing, and in a likely related development, the state also reported its largest increase in cases over a 24-hour period. Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike said 2,724 additional cases were diagnosed Friday, bringing the statewide total to 39,658.

In addition, another 108 Illinois residents have died of the illness, boosting the death toll to 1,795.

Illinois Coronavirus Update April 24 — Don't miss updates about precautions in the Chicago area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

"More testing means we can potentially lower the infection rate," Pritzker said, noting that Illinois tested 16,124 people for the coronavirus Friday, up from about 9,000 on both Wednesday and Thursday.

The governor said he hopes daily testing will increase even more in the coming weeks.

Despite the increase in cases, officials said social distancing measures and the recently extended stay-at-home order have helped stem the spread of coronavirus.

Seventeen percent of those tested Friday tested positive, down from the cumulative average of 21 percent. It's too soon to say whether that's evidence that new infections are trending downward, Pritzker said.

However, Ezike said, "We have flattened the curve. We have lowered the amount of lives lost."

Meanwhile, Pritzker spoke about the "buzz" around coronavirus antibody testing and cautioned against becoming overly optimistic about them or the idea that having the coronavirus could make patients immune going forward.

"We're craving answers in an uncertain time," he said, but there are no antibody tests certified to provably diagnose coronavirus antibodies.