Hospital Beds ‘Not Infinite,’ Pritzker Says On IL’s Deadliest Day

ILLINOIS — On the day Illinois reported its highest number of COVID-19 deaths, Gov. J.B. Pritzker warned hospitals’ ability to care for patients is “not quite infinite” with a second wave of the coronavirus yet to subside.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 238 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, the state’s largest single-day increase of the pandemic. Though some of those deaths can be attributed to data delays around the holiday, “a life lost (but) reported late following a holiday is still a life lost,” Pritzker said.

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Public health data shows a huge surge in cases since mid-October fueled similar increases in the number of patients being treated for and dying from COVID-19 over the same period.

Illinois’ seven-day rolling average of deaths hit nearly 139 on Nov. 25, its highest mark of the pandemic. That’s twice as high as it was at any point in the nearly five months between June 15 and Nov. 10, public health data shows.

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Speaking Wednesday during the governor’s daily coronavirus briefing, Dr. Christopher Farrar of Anderson Hospital in Maryville said the spike in cases has “put a strain” on the intensive care unit at his hospital and others across the state.

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That strain could also impact the level of care that hospitals can provide to patients without COVID-19, Farrar said, urging residents to follow mask mandates, keep their distance from others and stay home whenever possible.

“Our providers and the hospital staff have stepped up to take on this new wave of COVID-19 cases, and I want to ensure the public that we, as health care providers, will continue to help support and care for you and your loved ones if the need arises,” Farrar said. “I would like to emphasize: Please do all you can to prevent this need from arising.”

As of Wednesday, 12,639 Illinois residents have died from COVID-19, according to public health data.

Hospitalizations remain near all-time highs, with 5,834 people hospitalized with COVID-19 Tuesday night in Illinois. That includes 1,190 people in intensive care, of which 714 are on ventilators, the state's data shows.

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Pritzker called the coronavirus “a killer” and urged residents to “honor those that it has taken by doing everything that we can to prevent more people from getting sick and dying.”

IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike also pleaded for residents to follow public health guidelines and do their part to reduce the spread of the virus.

“I really want to emphasize how much people have the power of life and death in their hands, in their mask, in their ability to say no to large gatherings and their ability to say no to venues that would promote the spread of this virus,” Ezike said. “I urge everyone to give the gift of life this holiday season by being as safe as possible and making a safer environment for everyone around us.”