131 Illinoisans Died From Coronavirus On Thanksgiving

ILLINOIS — While you were enjoying turkey and stuffing — sitting down to dinner alone or with immediate family, or flouting health officials' guidance and holding a big gathering as usual — your fellow Illinoisans were dying, about one death every 11 minutes. That's 131 people who will not get to enjoy the holiday next year or ever again.

In addition to those deaths — and the 12,022 new coronavirus cases reported Thursday — state health officials on Friday reported another 7,574 new cases and 66 more deaths, bringing the statewide totals to 705,063 infections, 12,029 confirmed deaths and 633 probable deaths.

The latest deaths include:

• Bureau County: 1 male 90s
• Clark County: 1 male 80s
• Clay County: 1 female 90s
• Clinton County: 1 male 80s
• Cook County: 1 male 30s, 1 male 40s, 2 females 50s, 2 males 50s, 3 males 60s, 3 females 70s, 3 males 70s, 4 females 80s, 2 males 80s, 4 females 90s, 1 male 90s
• DeKalb County: 1 female 80s
• DuPage County: 2 males 70s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
• Fayette County: 1 female 60s
• Hardin County: 1 male 80s
• Henry County: 1 female 80s
• Kane County: 1 female 70s
• Kendall County: 2 females 90s, 1 male 90s
• Lake County: 1 female 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
• LaSalle County: 1 male 80s
• Livingston County: 1 male 60s
• Macon County: 2 males 80s
• Marion County: 1 female 70s
• McHenry County: 1 male 80s
• Monroe County: 1 male 80s
• Morgan County: 1 male 80s
• Rock Island County: 1 female 80s
• Saline County: 1 female 80s
• Vermilion County: 1 female 70s
• Will County: 1 female 60s, 3 females 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
• Winnebago County: 1 male 80s
• Woodford County: 1 female 70s

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the state health department, said earlier this week that officials hope to receive about 400,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine within days of its approval by the Food and Drug Administration. That could happen within weeks.

But health officials are still working out how to distribute the vaccine as quickly as possible to the state's 12.7 million residents. While Pfizer was the first drug company to apply for FDA approval, its vaccine requires special refrigeration that is not widely available. Ezike said the state has ordered 20 deep freezers to keep the vaccine at an ultra-cold minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit — colder than Antarctica.

Hospitalizations fell slightly on Friday. As of Thursday night, 5,829 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 across Illinois — about 3 percent fewer than the previous day — including 1,215 in intensive care and 698 on ventilators.

The statewide case positivity rate — a rolling, seven-day average — is now 10.1 percent, 0.2 percentage points lower than the previous day.

(The positivity rate is 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 12.2 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 United States now has more than 12.8 million confirmed coronavirus infections, and at least 263,525 Americans have died from COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University. Based on the latest predictions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 294,000 to 321,000 Americans could be dead from the disease by Dec. 19.

Globally, more than 61.1 million people have been infected and more than 1.4 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:

DuPage Health Hasn't Closed Violating Restaurants: Official

At least four in Elmhurst are defying the governor's order.

Some Western Springs Restaurants Violate Order: Official

The village promises to cooperate with public health authorities.

Free Coronavirus Testing Offered At Olivia's Garden Saturday

Residents of Beverly, Mount Greenwood and Morgan Park can reserve a spot during a six-hour window on Nov. 28.

Kane County Hits 30,000 Coronavirus Cases On Eve Of Thanksgiving

Almost 12,000 people in Kane County tested positive for the coronavirus in the first 25 days of November, according to public health data.

Bring Kids Back To School: D303 Parents Want In-Person Learning

Most St. Charles parents want their students in classrooms Jan. 5 for the start of District 303's second semester, according to a survey

Geneva Ditches Proposal To Issue Fines For COVID-19 Violations

About 20 restaurants and bars in Geneva are ignoring a statewide ban on indoor service, Mayor Kevin Burns said Monday.

St. Charles Nears 3,000-Case Milestone As Coronavirus Spikes

More than 1,000 people in St. Charles tested positive in the first three weeks of November, public health data shows.

Convicted Murderer Yang Contracts Coronavirus In Jail

Marni Yang is serving two life sentences for the 2007 murder of Deerfield resident Rhoni Reuter and her unborn child.

Kendall, DeKalb Co. Courts Pause Jury Trials Amid COVID-19 Surge

Twenty-third Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Robert Pilmer said jury trials will be paused until Feb. 21.

Kendall Co. Hospitals Being 'Squeezed' Due To Coronavirus Surge

County health officials are urging residents to "continue to wear your mask, wash your hands often, and watch your distance from others."

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."

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?

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: 705,063
• Confirmed Deaths: 12,029
• People tested: 10,289,223
• Recovered: Illinois does not provide exact numbers of recovered cases, but says the recovery rate is 97 percent.

Nationwide:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 12,895,752
• Deaths: 263,525
• People tested: 186,027,239
• Recovered: 4,871,203

Global:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 61,165,359
• Deaths: 1,435,374
• People tested: No data available
• Recovered: 39,195,001

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.