IL Reports 13,012 New Coronavirus Cases, 126 More COVID-19 Deaths

ILLINOIS — State health officials on Friday reported 13,012 new cases of the coronavirus and 126 more deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. The statewide totals now stand at 634,395 infections, 11,304 confirmed deaths and 491 probable deaths.

The latest deaths include:

• Adams County: 1 male 80s
• Bureau County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
• Champaign County: 1 female 80s
• Coles County: 1 female 90s
• Cook County: 1 male 30s, 1 male 40s, 2 females 50s, 2 males 50s, 4 females 60s, 7 males 60s, 6 females 70s, 11 males 70s, 9 females 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s, 2 males 90s, 1 female over 100, 1 male over 100
• DeKalb County: 1 female 40s
• DeWitt County: 1 female 80s
• Douglas County: 1 male 80s
• DuPage County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 70s, 2 females 80s, 2 males 80s, 2 females 90s, 1 male 90s
• Effingham County: 1 female 60s
• Franklin County: 1 male 90s
• Grundy County: 1 female 70s
• Kane County: 1 male 40s, 1 female 60s, 1 female 70s, 2 females 80s, 1 male 80s
• Kendall County: 1 male 90s
• Knox County: 1 female 80s
• Lake County: 1 male 40s, 1 male 50s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s
• LaSalle County: 1 female 80s, 2 males 80s, 1 male 90s
• Macon County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 80s, 2 males 80s
• Madison County: 1 male 20s, 1 female 70s, 2 females 80s
• Mason County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 90s
• McDonough County: 1 male 60s
• McHenry County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s
• McLean County: 1 male 80s
• Mercer County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 90s
• Monroe County: 1 female 80s
• Ogle County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
• Pike County: 1 male 80s
• Randolph County: 1 female 80s
• Rock Island County: 1 male 50s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
• Sangamon County: 1 female 80s
• Stephenson County: 1 female 70s
• Tazewell County: 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
• Whiteside County: 2 males 50s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
• Will County: 1 male 50s, 1 female over 100
• Winnebago County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
• Woodford County: 1 female over 100

Hospitalizations continued to rise, jumping 1.2 percent from Thursday. As of Thursday night, 6,111 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 across Illinois, including 1,196 in intensive care and 604 on ventilators.

The statewide case positivity rate — a rolling, seven-day average — is now 11.5 percent, 0.5 percentage points lower than the previous day.

(That's the number the state has reported since the start of the pandemic and is calculated by dividing total cases detected by total tests performed. Another way to calculate the positivity rate is to divide the number of positive tests by total tests performed. By that calculation, the test positivity rate is 13.4 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 entire state will move to Tier 3 mitigations on Friday, which means the closing of casinos, theaters, indoor museums, perfoming arts centers and indoor amusement centers. Indoor service at bars and restaurants is prohibited, and retail and grocery stores will operate at 25 percent capacity, with delivery or curbside pickup options encouraged.

"The simple fact is that COVID-19 is spreading so quickly and so widely, and our hospitals are beginning to experience real strain, and at the current infection rate, they will be overwhelmed," Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. "So whenever possible, we need you to stay home."

The United States now has more than 11.8 million confirmed coronavirus infections, and at least 253,458 Americans have died from COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University. Based on the latest predictions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 276,000 to 298,000 Americans could be dead from the disease by Dec. 12.

Globally, more than 57.3 million people have been infected and more than 1.3 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:

Most In IL Plan Thanksgiving Within Households: Patch Survey

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Photos Show Big Thanksgiving Crowds, Little Distancing At O'Hare

Dr. Ezike said Thursday that she fears families traveling for Thanksgiving may mean some family members won't be alive for Christmas.

Entire State Moving To Tier 3: 'This Is Not A Stay-At-Home Order'

"Tier 3 boils down to this: if you don't need to do it, don't," Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday.

Illinois Health Care Workers 'Paying The Price' As Cases Surge

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said that hospital workers are experiencing "a crisis as challenging as the one they experienced last spring."

IL Patch Survey: Is Coronavirus Changing Your Thanksgiving Plans?

Patch wants to know how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting your Thanksgiving plans.

Pritzker Pauses Winter Sports Season Amid Coronavirus Mitigations

The governor's office and Illinois Department of Public Health have declined invites to Thursday's Illinois High School Association meeting.

Misty, Emotional Pritzker Still Didn't Address Pandemic Hypocrisy

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Governors Tell Midwesterners To 'Mask Up,' Stay Safe This Winter

A recently announced vaccine "doesn't mean that we can let our guard down," Gov. J.B. Pritzker said — we have to survive the winter first.

Holiday Events In Chicago: What Is Your Risk Of COVID Exposure?

What are the chances you'll be exposed to the coronavirus at Thanksgiving dinner or a holiday party?

Hospitals Cut Back On Elective Surgery Amid Coronavirus Surge

"The next couple of months are going to be bad no matter what," Dr. Robert Citronberg warned. "It's just a question of how bad."

35% Of IL Teachers Consider Quitting Due To Coronavirus: Survey

Stress and safety concerns amid COVID-19 are aggravating an existing teacher shortage, according to the Illinois Education Association.

Keep Thanksgiving Virtual Or Within Own Household In IL: CDC

Small gatherings are a big contributor to the worsening coronavirus pandemic, health officials said. Illinois is on a stay-at-home advisory.

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: 634,395
• Confirmed Deaths: 11,304
• People tested: 9,588,698
• Recovered: Illinois does not provide exact numbers of recovered cases, but says the recovery rate is 97 percent.

Nationwide:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 11,808,698
• Deaths: 253,458
• People tested: 173,719,264
• Recovered: 4,410,709

Global:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 57,309,785
• Deaths: 1,366,278
• People tested: No data available
• Recovered: 36,697,603

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.