No COVID-19 Deaths For 4 Weeks: New Trier Area Coronavirus Update

NEW TRIER TOWNSHIP, IL — As of Monday, there have been no COVID-19 related deaths among residents of Glencoe, Northfield, Wilmette or Winnetka for the past four weeks, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. Meanwhile, data from the Cook County Department of Public Health shows Glencoe has one of the lowest infection rates among all northern suburbs.

The deaths of eight residents of New Trier Township communities have been attributed to the coronavirus. They include one Northfield woman, one Winnetka woman and six residents of Wilmette. All had serious underlying health conditions, according to the medical examiner's office.

In Glencoe, there have been 27 confirmed coronavirus case as of Monday, for a rate of 310 cases per 100,000 residents.

Winnetka had 75 cases for a rate of 615 cases per 100,000 residents.

In Northfield, there were 90 cases as of Monday, equating to a rate of 1,661 per 100,000 residents.

Wilmette, with its larger population, had 156 cases and a lower infection rate — 310 cases per 100,000 residents.

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State public health officials Monday announced 473 new confirmed coronavirus cases and 19 additional deaths attributed to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus. The numbers are the lowest reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health in 10 weeks.

Statewide, the total number of infections is 133,016, with 6,326 confirmed deaths. Public health officials have begun also reporting the number of additional "probable" cases and deaths. There have been 861 probable cases and an additional 181 probable deaths across the state.

"Reporting probable cases will help show the potential burden of COVID-19 illness and efficacy of population-based non-pharmaceutical interventions," officials said.

The CDC says cases are rising in 19 states, though in Illinois cases and deaths have fallen significantly since the peak in early May.

Earlier: Coronavirus Infection Rate Slows To A Crawl In Winnetka, Glencoe

Experts say testing is crucial to identify and isolate new cases. State health officials said last week that community testing sites are now open to everyone regardless of current symptoms.

According to IDPH, an average of more than 21,000 specimens were tested over the past five days. And for the first time since Gov. J.B. Pritzker's March 20 stay-at-home order, the state has gone 10 days with fewer than 1,000 new coronavirus cases a day.

Nonetheless, this month's increase in outdoor gatherings — such as mass street demonstrations with thousands of people — has prompted state health officials to recommend mass testing regardless of symptoms.

"As people gather in large crowds with varying degrees of social distancing, there is cause for concern about COVID-19 spread and outbreaks, especially if masks were not worn universally," said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.

"I urge anyone who recently attended a rally, protest, or other mass gathering to get tested for COVID-19 so we can identify any cases early. We recommend testing [five days to a week] after participating in large group rallies, or immediately if symptoms develop. If there are known cases, we can make sure those people are quarantined and not exposing other individuals."

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Other north suburban community with the lowest total infection rates include Hawthorn Woods, with a rate of between 175 and 222 cases per 100,000, and Lake Barrington, with a rate between 102 and 184 cases per 100,000 people. Ranges are provided because the Lake County Health Department has declined to release the exact number of cases in each town.

Representatives of the health department and coroner's office said they are not maintaining records of COVID-19 related deaths in the county. Likewise, Illinois Department of Public Health officials have also declined to identify the ages, sex, dates of death and hometowns of Lake County residents whose deaths have been classified as COVID-19-related in response to public records requests.