Coronavirus Infection Rate Slows To A Crawl In Winnetka, Glencoe

WINNETKA, IL — Only eight people who live in Winnetka or Glencoe have contracted the coronavirus so far in May, and no residents of either town have died this month from COVID-19, according to county health agencies.

As of Tuesday, a total of 24 Glencoe residents and 71 Winnetka residents have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the Cook County Department of Public Health.

The vast majority of those cases were discovered early in the state's outbreak — half of Glencoe's cases were detected in March. Records show no Glencoe residents who have yet died from the virus.

Two Winnetka residents died last month with COVID-19 listed as the primary cause. An 89-year-old woman died April 21 and an 86-year-old woman died April 24, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

Northfield has had 71 residents test positive for the virus, one of them — an 81-year-old woman at the Glenview Terrace nursing home — died April 12.

The number of recovered residents is not released by state or county health department officials.

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In all of suburban Cook County, there have been 1,374 deaths among more than 30,000 positive cases, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Chicago has had 1,980 deaths among 43,372 cases.

About 40 percent of the county's total deaths have been among residents and staff of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

Public health officials announced Tuesday that 39 people died statewide during the prior 24 hours, the second consecutive day with fewer than 40 people losing their lives after testing positive for the coronavirus. It marked the first time since the April 8 that state public health officials have recorded two straight days with fewer than 40 people dying from COVID-19.

State health officials on Tuesday announced 1,178 new cases of the coronavirus and 39 additional deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. That marks a significant decline from recent days, but could be attributed to slower counting over the holiday weekend. Whether the decline holds or mid-week counts bring a spike remains to be seen. The statewide total now stands at 113,195 confirmed infections and 4,923 known deaths.

Last week, the Cook County Board of Commissioners voted 9-7 to provide emergency personnel, including dispatchers, with the addresses of suburban Cook County residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus.

On Tuesday, Board President Toni Preckwinkle vetoed the effort. It was the first time she has vetoed a piece of legislation in the nearly 10 years she has presided over the board.