Illinois Coronavirus Update April 10: 17,887 Cases; 596 Deaths

ILLINOIS — Illinois added 1,465 new coronavirus cases on Friday, and 68 more people have died as the outbreak continues to grow. As of 2:30 p.m., the state's coronavirus case count stood at 17,887, with 596 deaths attributable to COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Nationally, more than 486,490 Americans have the virus and 18,022 have died as of Friday afternoon.

The state is working to increase its testing capacity. So far, 87,527 people have been tested for the virus in Illinois, 6,670 more than a day prior. On Thursday the state conducted 5,791 tests.

The state has thus far failed to meet its 10,000-test-a-day goal after new machines were unable to produce valid results, the governor said at a Wednesday afternoon news conference.

The new Illinois deaths include:

• Cook County: 1 male 20s, 1 female 30s, 1 female 50s, 7 males 50s, 3 females 60s, 5 males 60s, 4 females 70s, 10 males 70s, 3 females 80s, 6 males 80s, 4 females 90s, 2 males 90s
• DuPage County: 1 male 60s, 3 males 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
• Kane County: 2 males 70s
• Kankakee County: 1 male 50s- Lake County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
• Rock Island County: 1 female 60s
• St. Clair County: 1 male 50s
• Will County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 60s, 2 males 70s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s

The ages of coronavirus patients in the state range from younger than one to older than 100 years, and 83 of 102 Illinois counties now report cases of the virus. Fulton and Greene counties reported their first cases Friday, 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."

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 170,758 confirmed cases and 5,820 deaths, 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, more than 1.6 million people have been infected and at least 101,526 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.

(Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering)

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Here's what's happening with coronavirus in Illinois:

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Coronavirus by the numbers:

Illinois:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 17,887
• People tested: 87,527
• Deaths: 596

Nationwide:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 486,490
• Deaths: 18,022
• Recovered: 27,612

Global:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 1,673,423
• Deaths: 101,526
• Recovered: 372,428

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.