Illinois Coronavirus Update April 8: 15,078 Cases; 462 Deaths

ILLINOIS — Illinois added 1,529 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, and 82 more people have died as the outbreak continues to accelerate. As of 2:30 p.m., the state's coronavirus case count stood at 15,078, with 462 deaths attributable to COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Nationally, more than 404,352 Americans have the virus and 13,829 have died.

The state is working to increase its testing capacity. So far, 75,066 people have been tested for the virus in Illinois, 6,334 more than Tuesday. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years.

The new Illinois deaths include:

• Boone County: 1 female 80s
• Cook County: 1 male 30s, 4 males 40s, 2 females 50s, 8 males 50s, 2 females 60s, 7 males 60s, 12 females 70s, 7 males 70s, 4 females 80s, 10 males 80s, 2 females 90s, 2 males 90s
• DuPage County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s,
• Kane County: 1 male 60s
• Lake County: 2 females 80s, 1 female 90s
• Macon County: 1 male 80s
• Madison County: 1 female 60s
• McHenry County: 1 male 70s
• St. Clair County: 1 male 70s
• Tazewell County: 1 female 80s
• Will County: 1 female 60s, 2 males 60s, 2 males 70s, 2 females 80s

Seventy-eight Illinois counties now report cases of the virus. Stark county reported its first case Wednesday, state health officials said, urging residents to do what they can to keep the number of deaths from climbing any higher.

"Please stay home. I assure you if people congregate tomorrow, we will set the state back in our fight against COVID-19," Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said. "You don't want to be the one who spreads this virus to a health care worker."

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday afternoon that the state had only received a fraction of the masks, gloves and gowns that his office had requested from the federal government.

Officials say the virus is hitting the state's African American community especially hard. For instance, in Chicago, where African Americans make up fewer than 30 percent of the population, they account for more than 70 percent of coronavirus deaths.

At 140,386 confirmed cases, New York is by far the worst coronavirus hot spot in the country, followed by New Jersey, Michigan, California, Louisiana, Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

Globally, almost 1.5 million people have been infected and at least 86,979 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.

(Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering)

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Coronavirus by the numbers:

Illinois:

• Total number of presumptive coronavirus cases: 13,549
• People tested: 68,732
• Deaths: 380

Nationwide:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 404,352
• Deaths: 13,829
• Recovered: 22,775

Global:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 1,475,976
• Deaths: 86,979
• Recovered: 317,372

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:

• The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a health care professional recommends it. A face mask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of face masks also is crucial for health workers and other people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

To donate personal protective equipment (PPE), email PPE.donations@illinois.gov. For health questions about COVID-19, call the state coronavirus hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.