Illinois Coronavirus Update June 5: 125,915 Cases, 5,795 Deaths

ILLINOIS — State health officials on Friday announced 1,156 new cases of the coronavirus and 59 additional deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. The stateside total now stands at 125,915 confirmed infections and 5,795 known deaths.

The most recent deaths include:

• Cook County: 3 males 30s, 1 female 40s, 1 male 40s, 3 females 50s, 1 male 50s, 3 females 60s, 1 male 60s, 3 females 70s, 2 males 70s, 4 females 80s, 8 males 80s, 3 females 90s, 2 males 90s
• DuPage County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s
• Iroquois County: 1 male 70s
• Kane County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s, 2 females 70s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
• Kankakee County: 1 female 80s
• Lake County: 1 female 40s, 1 male 80s, 2 females 90s
• McHenry County: 1 male 70s
• Rock Island County: 1 female 80s
• St. Clair County: 1 female 90s
• Will County: 1 male 80s
• Winnebago County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 90s

Most of the state moved into phase 3 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's reopening plan May 29, and Chicago followed suit Wednesday.

But widespread unrest sweeping the city has complicated reopening. Metra resumed service Wednesday after being shut down for two days, but it is operating on a reduced schedule, with late night trains canceled and no service on the SouthWest, Heritage Corridor or North Central lines. More trains could be canceled depending on circumstances, the transit agency said in a tweet Wednesday morning.

The protests, most of which have been nonviolent, are in response to the killing of an African American man in Minneapolis last week. George Floyd, 46, died after a police officer placed a knee on his neck, apparently suffocating him as Floyd pleaded that he couldn't breathe, according to video of the incident.

"I'm absolutely worried about a potential outbreak following what we saw yesterday," Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Sunday, referring to the protests. Likewise, Pritzker urged those who marched to isolate themselves to avoid spreading the virus.

Don't miss updates about precautions in the Chicago area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

Experts say testing, contact tracing and health care capacity are keys to safely lifting lockdowns. Over the past 24 hours, labs in Illinois have processed 18,903 coronavirus tests, for a total of 1,000,919 since the pandemic began. The state's rolling, seven-day positivity rate, is now 6 percent, health officials said. 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.

State health officials said Thursday that community testing sites are now open to all regardless of symptoms. Testing is crucial to identifying new cases so officials can take immediate action to prevent additional spread, according to a news release.

"As people gather in large crowds with varying degrees of social distancing, there is cause for concern about COVID-19 spread and outbreaks, especially if masks were not worn universally," said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. "I urge anyone who recently attended a rally, protest, or other mass gathering to get tested for COVID-19 so we can identify any cases early. We recommend testing 5-7 days after participating in large group rallies, or immediately if symptoms develop. If there are known cases, we can make sure those people are quarantined and not exposing other individuals."

The United States as a whole has tested nearly 18.7 million people for the coronavirus as of Friday. After early testing failures that left officials unable to track the spread of the disease, that number is improving, but experts say many states are still under testing.

The country now has nearly 1.9 million confirmed coronavirus infections, according to Johns Hopkins University, and at least 108,768 Americans have died from COVID-19. Globally, more than 6.7 million people have been infected and 393,555 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:

Jobs In Illinois: Unemployment Dips As Businesses Rehire Workers

Many companies are looking to hire, despite soaring unemployment, and the state has set up a website to help.

Gov. Pritzker OKs In-Person Summer Classes With Restrictions

Class sizes will be limited to 10 people or fewer, and teachers and students will be required to wear masks, among other restrictions.

Six Flags Great America Reopening Date Still Uncertain

Park officials say they could safely reopen now, but state officials could keep them shuttered for the rest of the year.

Data Shows No New Deaths In Kendall Co. For 18 Consecutive Days

Less than 1 percent of the population has tested positive for the illness so far, according to county and U.S. Census Bureau data.

Tear Gas Is Way More Dangerous Than Police Let On — Especially During The Coronavirus Pandemic

In the middle of a respiratory pandemic, law enforcement agencies have used tear gas in especially dangerous ways.

Social Distancing At La Grange Protest?

Most demonstrators had masks on at demonstration. But police did not.

Rialto Gets $700 Per Day To Be Will County Traffic Court

The Rialto may remain the Joliet area's main traffic courtroom the next four months, Chief Judge Richard Schoenstedt told Joliet Patch.

Bridgeview Nursing Home Slapped With Coronavirus Death Lawsuit

Family of 81-year-old man who died of COVID-19 sues Bridgeview Health Care Center over claims of gross negligence.

Volunteers After Hours To Help COVID-19 Patients: Northbrook Hero

Maggie Matsas, assistant director of nursing for Suncrest Home Health & Hospice in Northbrook, is making a difference during pandemic.

12-Year-Old Raises Funds To Buy Ventilator: Local Hero

Ryan Feinstein used his bar-mitzvah project to assist NorthShore University HealthSystem during the coronavirus pandemic.

Oswegoland Park District's Pools To Remain Closed This Summer

The opening of the Prairie Point Splash Pad is also delayed while the district awaits guidance on operations from IDPH.

Coronavirus Testing Site Reopens In Rolling Meadows

State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) made the announcement Wednesday as the site had closed temporarily.

Coronavirus by the numbers:

Illinois:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 125,915
• Deaths: 5,795
• People tested: 1,000,919
• Recovered: No data available

Nationwide:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 1,886,555
• Deaths: 108,768
• People tested: 18,680,529
• Recovered: 485,002

Global:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 6,752,248
• Deaths: 393,555
• People tested: No data available
• Recovered: 2,908,958

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.