IL Reports Almost 7,000 New Coronavirus Cases — Another Record

ILLINOIS — State health officials on Friday reported another new record, 6,943 new cases of the coronavirus and 36 more deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus.

The statewide totals now stand at 402,401 confirmed infections and 9,711 known deaths. Another 6,259 probable cases and 283 probable deaths are not included in the official totals.

The latest deaths include:

• Adams County: 1 male 90s
• Carroll County: 1 female 80s
• Christian County: 1 male 50s
• Cook County: 1 male 40s, 1 female 50s, 1 male 50s, 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
• DuPage County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s
• Fulton County: 1 male 70s
• Greene County: 2 females 90s
• LaSalle County: 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
• Livingston County: 1 male 60s
• Macon County: 1 female 70s
• Madison County: 1 male 70s
• McDonough County: 1 male 60s
• Morgan County: 1 male 80s
• Peoria County: 1 female 90s
• Piatt County: 1 female 90s
• Saline County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 90s
• St. Clair County: 1 male 70s
• Tazewell County: 1 male 60s
• Wayne County: 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
• White County: 1 male 80s
• Will County: 2 males 70s, 1 female 80s, 2 females 90s
• Winnebago County: 1 female 70s

The new record comes as more regions impose new restrictions on restaurants, social gatherings and school sports, though some restaurants, businesses and institutions are challenging or openly defying the governor's orders. Starting Sunday, Region 3 in west-central Illinois will join the majority of other regions with restrictions on indoor dining and gatherings of more than 25 people, the governor announced Thursday afternoon.

Hospitalizations also continued to rise across the state Friday, jumping another 2 percent from Thursday. ICU occupancy rose 4.6 percent, and the number of patients on ventilators rose 7 percent in the same period. As of Tuesday night, 3,092 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 across Illinois, including 673 in intensive care and 288 on ventilators.

The statewide test positivity rate — a rolling, seven-day average — rose another 0.4 percentage points to 7.3 percent. According to Johns Hopkins University, a positivity rate of less than 5 percent is a good measure of whether enough tests are being conducted, and state officials have said a rate higher than 8 percent will trigger new restrictions in a given region.

"We are getting close to the entire state implementing mitigation measures," Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said this week. "This is not just a warning, but a call to action. We continue to move backwards, losing all the ground we had gained over the summer."

Fifty-one counties remain at a "warning level" for a surge in coronavirus cases, including Adams, Bond, Boone, Carroll, Cass, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Edwards, Fayette, Ford, Franklin, Gallatin, Greene, Hamilton, Henderson, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Kane, Kendall, Knox, LaSalle, Lee, Macon, Macoupin, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Morgan, Moultrie, Ogle, Perry, Pike, Pulaski, Rock Island, Saline, Shelby, Stephenson, Union, Vermilion, Wabash, Warren, Wayne, Whiteside, Will, Williamson and Winnebago.

See how your region is doing here.

"Although the reason for counties reaching a warning level varies, some of the common factors for an increase in cases and outbreaks are associated with gatherings in people’s homes, weddings and funerals, bars and clubs, university and college parties as well as college sports teams, family gatherings, long-term care facilities, correctional centers, schools, and cases among the community at large, especially people in their 20s," according to the state health department.

State health officials also pointed to businesses "blatantly disregarding mitigation measures" and many individuals not social distancing or wearing masks as reasons for the surge.

The United States now has more than 9 million confirmed coronavirus infections, and at least 229,141 Americans have died from COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University. Based on the latest predictions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 243,000 to 256,000 Americans could be dead from the disease by Nov. 21.

Globally, more than 45.3 million people have been infected and more than 1.1 million are known to have died.

Illinois Patch Local Business Information Center

As local and state economies slowly emerge from pandemic lockdowns, it's often hard for customers to know the conditions under which local businesses are open. The business center contains easily accessible and up-to-date information about scores of local businesses, including everything from operating hours to the availability of by-appointment services, quick website links and other contact information. It's free to use and free for businesses to join.

Here's what's happening with the coronavirus in Illinois:

Illinois Restaurant Association To Vote On Indoor Dining Ban Suit

"Unless the state of Illinois takes a more reasonable approach to mitigation, thousands of restaurants are at risk of permanent closure."

Pritzker Fights Order Blocking New Restrictions At Geneva Eatery

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is appealing a restraining order that stops public officials from enforcing a recently imposed indoor dining ban.

Mayor Questions Indoor Dining Ban, Asks Pritzker To Prove Link

Three of Aurora's four counties are under new restrictions, causing inconsistent enforcement throughout the city, Mayor Richard Irvin said.

Socially Distant Halloween Egg Hunts Might Save Trick-Or-Treating

One St. Louis resident is pitching an idea for safe trick-or-treating this year, and a local company has stepped forward to make it happen.

Teachers Union Chief Airs Concerns; Parents Say He's A Fearmonger

Parents are slamming the head of District 303's teachers union for fearmongering after his comments at a recent school board meeting.

State Police Taking Stronger Action Against 'Scofflaws': Pritzker

The Illinois State Police has recently ramped up" random visits to businesses that are under new restrictions, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said.

IHSA Defies Pritzker, Basketball Set To Start On Time

The Illinois High School Association Board also voted Wednesday to move the sport of wrestling from the winter season to the summer.

Emails, Secret Report Show Politics Of Science Guiding Pritzker

KONKOL COLUMN: A look behind the statistics used by Pritzker to decide virus restrictions shows that better science got disregarded.

Coronavirus Indoor Dining Ban Imposed On Lake, McHenry Counties

"We continue to move backwards, losing all the ground we had gained over the summer," IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said.

Region 9 Shutdown: How Will Restaurants, Bars Survive?

We are looking for owners of bars and restaurants to share how the pandemic has affected business and what the future holds.

No Indoor Dining In Suburban Cook: New Coronavirus Restrictions

New rules begin Wednesday in Region 10 — the state's first region to see increased restrictions due to its rising COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Nearly 500 COVID-19 Cases Linked To IL Schools: See Where

Teachers, school leaders and parents want state health officials to provide more info on where the cases are happening.

Illinois Coronavirus Helpline:

Illinois officials say a state helpline has been set up to provide emotional support and quick answers to questions about the coronavirus pandemic. Illinoisans can test "TALK" to 55-2020 (or "HABLAR" for Spanish), and within 24 hours they will receive a call from a counselor. Residents can also text keywords such as "UNEMPLOYMENT," "FOOD" or "SHELTER," to the same number to receive additional information about those topics.

Coronavirus by the numbers:

Illinois:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 402,401
• Deaths: 9,711
• People tested: 7,637,209
• Recovered: Illinois does not provide exact numbers of recovered cases, but says the recovery rate is 96 percent.

Nationwide:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 8,990,196
• Deaths: 229,141
• People tested: 142,674,796
• Recovered: 3,554,336

Global:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 45,341,053
• Deaths:1,184,875
• People tested: No data available
• Recovered: 30,387,944

Sources: Johns Hopkins University and IDPH

Tips from the CDC on dealing with coronavirus:

While the best way to prevent illness is to avoid virus exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention generally recommends taking these actions to prevent the spread of viruses:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

What to do if you're sick:

Call head if you're planning to visit your doctor:

• If you have a medical appointment, call the health care provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the health care provider's office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.

Stay home unless you must see a doctor:

• Stay home: People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness. You should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care.
• Avoid public areas: Do not go to work, school, or public areas.
• Avoid public transportation: Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing or taxis.

Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home:

• Stay away from others: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.
• Limit contact with pets and animals: You should restrict contact with pets and other animals while you are sick with COVID-19, just as you would around other people. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus.
• When possible, have another member of your household care for your animals while you are sick. If you are sick with COVID-19, avoid contact with your pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked and sharing food. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a face mask. See COVID-19 and Animals for more information.

Avoid sharing personal household items:

• Do not share: You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home.
• Wash thoroughly after use: After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.

Masks:

• CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.
• Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
• The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.
• Face mask instructions — sew- and no-sew masks

To donate personal protective equipment (PPE), email PPE.donations@illinois.gov. For health questions about COVID-19, call the state coronavirus hotline at 800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.