IL Reports 96 COVID-19 Deaths On Christmas Eve, 7,037 New Cases

ILLINOIS — Niney-six more Illinoisans won't see Christmas due to the coronavirus pandemic. The state reported them dead from COVID-19 on Thursday, along with 7,037 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the statewide totals to 925,107 infections and 15,643 deaths. Both new cases and deaths have started to rise again after declining in recent days.

The latest deaths in Illinois include:

• Adams County: 1 male 70s
• Christian County: 2 males 80s
• Cook County: 1 female 40s, 1 female 50s, 2 males 50s, 1 female 60s, 5 males 60s, 5 females 70s, 6 males 70s, 1 female 80s, 2 males 80s, 7 females 90s, 4 males 90s
• DeKalb County: 1 male 70s
• DuPage County: 1 male 50s, 1 female 70s. 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
• Effingham County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
• Fayette County: 1 male 50s
• Franklin County: 1 male 70s
• Henderson County: 1 female 60s
• Jackson County: 1 female 60s
• Kane County: 2 males 60s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female over 100
• Kankakee County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
• Knox County: 1 female 40s
• Lake County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 60s, 3 males 80s, 1 female 90s
• LaSalle County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 90s
• Macoupin County: 1 female 60s
• Madison County: 1 male 40s, 1 female 70s, 2 females 80s, 1 male 90s
• Marion County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 80s
• Massac County: 1 male 70s
• McHenry County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s
• McLean County: 2 females 80s
• Moultrie County: 1 female 80s
• Peoria County: 1 male 80s
• Perry County: 1 male 60s
• Randolph County: 1 female 70s
• Saline County: 1 female 80s
• Sangamon County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
• St. Clair County: 1 male 60s
• Tazewell County: 1 male over 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female over 100
• Vermilion County: 1 male 90s
• Warren County: 1 male 50s
• Will County: 2 females 70s, 1 male 90s, 1 female over 100
• Winnebago County: 1 female 80s

Vaccinations started across the state last week. About 63,000 Illinoisans have already been vaccinated, and health officials said they expect just over 60,000 more doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 174,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine to be available statewide this week.

As of Wednesday night, 4,488 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 across Illinois, including 944 in intensive care and 518 on ventilators.

The statewide case positivity rate — a rolling, seven-day average — fell 0.3 percentage points from Wednesday to 7.2 percent. The test positivity rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 9 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.

See how your region is doing here.

The United States now has more than 18.5 million confirmed coronavirus infections, and at least 327,065 Americans have died from COVID -19, according to Johns Hopkins University. Based on the latest predictions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 378,000 to 419,000 Americans could be dead from the disease by Jan. 16.

Globally, more than 78 million people have been infected and more than 1.7 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:

Family Of Teen Who Took Own Life Taking Pritzker, IHSA To Court

After the pandemic struck, "Trevor was never the same," his mother said.

Kane County Sets Mask Mandate To Protect Employees, Visitors

Masks and social distancing are now required within Kane County's main government building in Geneva to keep people safe amid the pandemic.

Lisle Trustee Donates Monthly Stipend To Aid Struggling Residents

Trustee Sara Sadat brought up in a committee on the whole meeting how to make it easier for village officials to donate in the pandemic.

Illinois Expects 234,450 More Coronavirus Vaccine Doses This Week

More than 63,000 people, not including those in Chicago, have been vaccinated in Illinois.

CVS To Start First Round Of COVID-19 Vaccination In Nursing Homes

Eventually, CVS will provide vaccines to the public in its 10,000 pharmacy locations across the country.

Coronavirus Vaccine Ready For Public By March, Walgreens Predicts

The Deerfield-based company has begun administering Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine to 3 million residents in long-term care facilities.

Mask Disputes Lead To Assaults On IL Flight Attendants: FAA

The separate incidents, both stemming from a "face-covering dispute," took place on two flights headed to Illinois in August, the FAA said.

Funds Available to Will County Residents Behind On Rent, Mortgage

Will County is coordinating four agencies dispersing a variety of federal funds to help families stay housed during the pandemic.

Vaccines Do Not Contain Tracking Chips: Ezike

To combat misinformation, Ezike urged people to look at larger bodies of work from science and medical researchers for information.

Delay Holiday Parties, Travel With 'Finish Line In Sight': Ezike

"There is still time to change your holiday plans," IDPH director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said, reminding residents a coronavirus vaccine is coming.

Mass Vaccination Is Our 'Ticket Out': Top Advocate Doctor

Top doctors with Advocate Aurora Health say vaccines up for approval are safe and effective. They plan to start inoculating staff next week

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: 925,107
• Confirmed Deaths: 15,643
• People tested: 12,782,980
• Recovered: Illinois does not provide exact numbers of recovered cases, but says the recovery rate is 97 percent.

Nationwide:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 18,511,268
• Deaths: 327,065
• People tested: 235,621,573
• Recovered: latest data unavailable

Global:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 78,380,606
• Deaths: 1,724,562
• People tested: No data available
• Recovered: 235,621,573

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.