Illinois Coronavirus Update May 19: 98,030 Cases, 4,379 Deaths

ILLINOIS — State health officials on Tuesday announced 1,545 new cases of the coronavirus and 146 additional deaths, bringing the statewide total to 98,030 confirmed cases and 4,379 known deaths.

The most recent deaths include:

• Coles County: 1 female 60s, 1 female 90s
• Cook County: 3 females 30s, 2 males 40s, 2 females 50s, 5 males 50s, 4 females 60s, 12 males 60s, 1 unknown 60s, 8 females 70s, 17 males 70s, 9 females 80s, 15 males 80s, 9 females 90s, 6 males 90s, 1 female 100+, 1 male 100+
• DeKalb County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 50s
• DuPage County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s, 2 females 70s, 1 male 70s, 4 females 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s, 1 female 100+
• Iroquois County: 1 male 60s
• Kane County: 1 male 70s, 2 females 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 100+
• Kankakee County: 2 males 60s, 1 female 70s
• Kendall County: 1 male 80s
• Lake County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
• Madison County: 2 females 80s, 1 female 90s
• McDonough County: 1 male 80s
• McHenry County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s
• Rock Island County: 1 male 30s, 1 male 60s, 1 male 90
• St. Clair County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
• Whiteside County: 1 female 100+
• Will County: 2 males 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
• Winnebago County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s

One hundred of 102 Illinois counties now report cases of the virus, and statewide, deaths range from people younger than one year old to older than 100, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

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Experts say testing, contact tracing and health care capacity are keys to safely lifting lockdowns. Over the past 24 hours, labs in Illinois have processed 18,443 coronavirus tests for a total of 621,684 since the pandemic began. The state's rolling, seven-day postivity rate is 14 percent and slowly declining, officials said. According to the 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.

"If a state's positivity rate is too high, that may indicate that the state is only testing the sickest patients who seek medical attention, and does not have enough testing capacity to accurately measure how prevalent the virus is within its communities," the university's coronavirus website says. "A low rate of positivity in testing data can be seen as a sign that a state is testing enough of its population to make informed decisions about reopening."

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said last week that all regions of the state are on track to move into the next phase of Restore Illinois, his plan to reopen the state, on May 29. But he called on Illinoisans to "stay the course" to make sure that happens.

Several mayors have asked permission to reopen ahead of schedule, and Kendall County Sheriff Dwight Baird has said he will not enforce the governor's order, but Pritzker challenged Illinois lawmakers to "step up and lead" instead of "playing to the crowd that ignores science and carries symbols of hate." The governor promised "there will be consequences" for businesses that reopen without approval.

The United States as a whole has tested more than 11.8 million people for the coronavirus as of Tuesday. After early testing failures that left officials unable to track the spread of the disease, that number is improving, but it still represents only a fraction of the U.S. population. According to a Harvard study, the United States would have to test half a million people a day, at a bare minimum, in order to get an accurate picture of cases in the country.

The United States now has more than 1.5 million confirmed coronavirus infections, according to Johns Hopkins University, and at least 91,187 Americans have died from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. Globally, more than 4.8 million people have been infected and 321,593 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:

Illinois Launches Coronavirus Contact Tracing Collaborative

A pilot contact tracing program is launching in St. Clair and Lake counties, the governor announced Monday.

2 More Illinois Retailers Closing Stores

Pier 1 reportedly plans to close all stores, while JCPenney will close up to 200 stores nationwide.

Illinois Has Most Coronavirus Restrictions In Country: Study

Here's how strict Illinois has been with its stay-at-home order compared to other U.S. states, according to WalletHub.

Village Asks Pritzker To Modify Restore Illinois Plan

The Village of Arlington Heights passed a resolution Monday calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to make changes to his coronavirus-related plan.

Here's How To Find Job Openings In Illinois

Many companies are looking to hire, despite soaring unemployment, and the state has set up a website to help.

Illinois Unemployment Website 'Glitch' Leaks Personal Information

State officials announced a "full-scale investigation" into how the new PUA system revealed Social Security numbers and other private data.

Ribfest Cancelled For The First Time In 33 Years

The popular summer fest was scheduled to make its debut in Romeoville.

Kane County Coronavirus Cases Jump Nearly 50 Percent In 1 Week

Thirty-eight people died in Kane County since last Monday, including 17 over the weekend, Coroner Rob Russell announced Monday.

Stateville Reopens Decrepit ‘F-House’ For Inmates With Coronavirus

Prison officials closed the cell house in 2016, citing health and safety concerns. Now it's housing inmates with COVID-19.

Actor Sean Penn, Mayor Lightfoot Visit New Coronavirus Test Sites

Chicago's partnership with actor Sean Penn's charity, CORE, is set to add six new coronavirus test sites in minority neighborhoods

Professor Accused Of Murder Seeks Release To Research Coronavirus

Ex-Northwestern professor Wyndham Lathem — accused of fatally stabbing his boyfriend in a sex fantasy — now wants to help fight COVID-19.

South Side Residents Push For Contact Tracing In Their Neighborhoods

Some South Side residents are pushing for tracing and training in their neighborhoods.

Deputies Won't Enforce Pritzker's Orders: Kane Co. Sheriff

There is no "legislated law" that applies to those who violate Gov. J.B. Pritzker's executive orders, Sheriff Ron Hain said Thursday.

Coronavirus by the numbers:

Illinois:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 98,030
• Deaths: 4,379
• People tested: 621,684
• Recovered: No data available

Nationwide:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 1,519,986
• Deaths: 91,187
• People tested: 11,834,508
• Recovered: 283,178

Global:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 4,867,515
• Deaths: 321,593
• People tested: No data available
• Recovered: 1,664,885

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.