Illinois Coronavirus Update June 18: 134,778 Cases, 6,537 Deaths

ILLINOIS — State health officials on Thursday announced 593 new cases of the coronavirus and 55 additional deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. The statewide total now stands at 134,778 confirmed cases and 6,537 known deaths, not including another 861 probable cases and an additional 181 probable deaths.

The latest deaths include:

• Cook County: 1 female 20s, 1 male 30s, 2 males 40s, 1 female 50s, 3 females 50s, 2 males 60s, 3 females 70s, 2 males 70s, 6 females 80s, 4 males 80s, 3 females 90s, 1 male 90s, 1 unknown 90s, 1 female 100+
• DeKalb County; 1 male 50s, 1 female 70s
• DuPage County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 2 females 90s, 1 male 90s
• Grundy County: 1 male 90s
• Kane County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 50s, 2 females 80s, 2 females 90s
• Kankakee County: 1 female 90s
• Lake County: 1 female 70s, 2 males 80s
• McHenry County: 1 male 50s
• St. Clair County: 1 male 70s
• Will County: 1 female 60s

Over the past 24 hours, labs in Illinois have processed 25,504 coronavirus tests, for a total of nearly 1.3 million since the pandemic began. The state's rolling, seven-day positivity rate is 3 percent. According to Johns Hopkins University, a positivity rate of less than 12 percent is a good measure of whether enough tests are being conducted in a given state.

The United States as a whole has tested nearly 25 million people for the coronavirus as of Thursday. The country now has nearly 2.2 million confirmed coronavirus infections, according to Johns Hopkins University, and at least 118,057 Americans have died from COVID-19. The CDC projects between 124,000 and 140,000 total deaths by July 4.

Globally, more than 8.4 million people have been infected and 450,835 are known to have died.

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 like "UNEMPLOYMENT," "FOOD," or "SHELTER," to the same number to receive additional information about those topics.

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

IL Board Of Ed Recommends Schools Reopen In Fall, Require Masks

The Illinois State Board of Education provided some guidance for school districts for the upcoming year during a meeting this week.

Massive Mail-In Voting Expansion, Election Day Now An IL Holiday

5 million Illinois voters will receive mail-in voting applications to keep the crowds — and coronavirus spread — away from the polls.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul Tests Positive For COVID-19

Raoul said he began experiencing mild symptoms over the weekend before getting tested for the coronavirus Monday.

Illinois Republicans Sue Pritzker Over Ban On Political Rallies

"Politics is a people business, and it is most effective when people connect in person," the suit claims.

50 Players, Limited Spectators Allowed In IHSA Stage 2

The Illinois High School Association unveiled the next stage Wednesday with the intent of syncing up with Phase 4 of Restore Illinois.

Organizers Officially Cancel Chicago's 2020 Pride Parade

Organizers confirmed that Chicago's 2020 Pride Parade has been cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis.

A Drug Offers Hope Amid Spikes In Coronavirus Infections

The drug dexamethasone reduced deaths by 35 percent in patients who needed treatment with breathing machines, said researchers in England.

When Can Illinois Enter Phase 4?

The earliest all regions can move into Phase 4 is June 26, according to state officials.

District 202 Schools Explore Options For Reopening In Fall

District officials are developing plans for either in-person classes, virtual learning or a model with a blend of both.

Illinois And Du Quoin State Fairs Canceled, Pritzker Announces

The coronavirus makes large public events too risky, health experts say. Gov. J.B. Pritzker called the cancellation a "difficult decision."

Coronavirus Survivor Gets Double Lung Transplant

The woman in her 20s was on a ventilator and heart-lung machine for almost two months before the transplant.

How America's Hospitals Survived The First Wave Of The Coronavirus

How can political leaders and hospitals learn in the event there is a second wave of the coronavirus this year?

Coronavirus by the numbers:

Illinois:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 134,778
• Deaths: 6,537
• People tested: 1,283,832
• Recovered: No data available

Nationwide:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 2,177,842
• Deaths: 118,057
• People tested: 24,937,877
• Recovered: 592,191

Global:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 8,410,682
• People tested: No data available
• Recovered: 4,115,237

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 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.