Illinois Coronavirus Update: Most New Cases Since Early June

ILLINOIS — State health officials on Thursday announced 1,018 new cases of the coronavirus and 20 additional deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. That's the most new cases since June 3, and while deaths remain relatively low, experts say they are a lagging indicator. The statewide numbers now stand at 150,450 confirmed infections and 7,119 deaths, not counting another 1,122 probable cases and an additional 210 probable deaths.

The latest deaths include:

• Cook County: 1 male 40s, 1 female 60s, 2 males 60s, 3 males 70s, 4 females 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
• DuPage County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s
• Kane County: 1 female 90s
• Kendall County: 1 male 50s
• McLean County: 1 female 80s
• Out of State: 1 female 50s
• St. Clair County: 1 female 90s

Every county in Illinois has now reported cases, state officials said.

In the past 24 hours, labs in Illinois have processed 36,180 coronavirus tests, for a total of more than 1.8 million since the pandemic began. The state's rolling, seven-day positivity rate is about 2.6 percent, down from more than 16 percent earlier this year, but up a fraction of a point from recent days. According to Johns Hopkins University, a positivity rate of less than 12 percent is a good measure of whether enough tests are being conducted in a given state.

As of Thursday, the United States as a whole had tested more than 37.4 million people for the coronavirus. The country now has more than 3 million confirmed coronavirus infections, according to Johns Hopkins University, and at least 132,803 Americans have died from COVID-19.

The country set a record Wednesday with more than 60,000 new cases, the biggest single-day increase so far. The CDC last month projected between 124,000 and 140,000 total deaths by July 4. The country crossed the lower end of that range well ahead of the holiday, and the agency's latest model now predicts 140,000 to 160,000 deaths by July 25.

Globally, more than 12 million people have been infected and 551,384 are known to have died.

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 like "UNEMPLOYMENT," "FOOD," or "SHELTER," to the same number to receive additional information about those topics.

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

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Coronavirus by the numbers:

Illinois:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 150,450
• Deaths: 7,119
• People tested: 1,878,756
• Recovered: No data available

Nationwide:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 3,055,491
• Deaths: 132,934
• People tested: 37,431,666
• Recovered: 953,420

Global:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 12,077,210
• Deaths: 551,384
• People tested: No data available
• Recovered: 6,636,374

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 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.