4,554 New Coronavirus Cases As IL Breaks Record For 2nd Day

ILLINOIS — State health officials on Friday reported a record 4,554 new cases of the coronavirus and 38 more deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. The previous single-day record was set Thursday when 4,015 new cases were reported, and the only higher case number was a three-day total of 5,368 reported Sept. 4 because of a data processing slowdown. The statewide totals now stand at 336,174 confirmed infections and 9,165 known deaths. Another 3,587 probable cases and 260 probable deaths are not included in the official totals.

The latest deaths include:

• Christian County: 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
• Clay County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 80s
• Cook County: 1 female 40s, 3 male 50s, 1 female 70s, 2 females 80s, 1 male 80s
• DuPage County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s
• Fayette County: 1 male 80s
• Ford County: 1 female 80s, 1 male 90s
• Jefferson County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 90s
• JoDaviess County: 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
• Lake County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s
• Lawrence County: 1 male 70s
• Madison County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 70s
• McHenry County: 1 female 60s
• Ogle County: 1 male 70s
• Richland County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 90s
• Rock Island County: 1 male 60s
• Sangamon County: 1 female 80s
• St. Clair County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
• Wayne County: 1 male 90s
• Will County: 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
• Williamson County: 1 male 70s

Hospitalizations across the state are up more than 4 percent from Thursday, and they have jumped more than 14 percent from the beginning of the week. As of Thursday night, 2,016 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state, including 410 in intensive care and 151 on ventilators, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The statewide test positivity rate — a rolling, seven-day average — also ticked up another 0.2 percentage points to 5.1 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.

The record case number and spike in daily deaths comes as a new projection says Illinois could nearly double the number of deaths its seen by Feb. 1.

Across Illinois, all 11 emergency management regions have seen an increase in the positivity rate since last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday, and more counties entered a "warning level" for a surge in new cases.

See how your region is doing here.

The United States now has more than 8 million confirmed coronavirus infections and at least 217,987 Americans have died from COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University. Based on the latest predictions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 229,000 to 240,000 Americans could be dead from the disease by Nov. 7.

Globally, more than 39 million people have been infected and more than 1.1 million are known to have died.

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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:

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Pritzker's COVID-19 Positivity Rate 'Not Scientifically Founded'

KONKOL COLUMN: A U of C scientist advising the state on virus tracking a told downstate reporter using "actual science" is too complicated.

'Virus Isn't Taking A Holiday': Pritzker Gives Holiday Guidance

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Teen With COVID-19 Infected 11 Relatives From IL, 3 Other States

Experts now believe the coronavirus is airborne, and tiny droplets containing the virus can linger indoors for hours as aerosols.

Chicago Adds Indiana To Coronavirus Travel Quarantine List

Spike in coronavirus cases puts Hoosier State on Chicago's list of COVID-19 hotspots on city's emergency travel quarantine list.

D308 Parent Says Hybrid Learning Is 'An Injustice' To Students

Parent Teri Strickland said the board is more concerned about the budget and "that is not fair to the kids."

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Middle School Cross-Country Team Sidelined By Coronavirus

The team from Batavia's Rotolo Middle School was forced to cancel an award ceremony Tuesday after a coach or student tested positive.

Batavia Taco Bell Closes After Worker Gets Coronavirus: Report

Taco Bell's Batavia location will be closed indefinitely, according to the chain's website.

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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: 336,174
• Deaths: 9,165
• People tested: 6,618,768
• Recovered: Illinois does not provide exact numbers of recovered cases, but says the recovery rate is 96 percent.

Nationwide:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 8,008,402
• Deaths: 217,987
• People tested: 119,380,346
• Recovered: 3,177,397

Global:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 39,068,667
• Deaths: 1,100,635
• People tested: No data available
• Recovered: 26,950,857

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.