Illinois Coronavirus Update May 4: 61,499 Cases, 2,618 Deaths

ILLINOIS — Health officials Sunday afternoon reported 2,994 new cases of the coronavirus in Illinois and 63 additional deaths, bringing the statewide total to 61,499 confirmed cases and 2,618 deaths.

The United States now has nearly 1.2 million confirmed coronavirus infections, according to Johns Hopkins University, and more than 67,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus.

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On Sunday, Illinois saw it's highest number of completed tests over 24 hours to date with 19,417 new tests. The state now routinely meets its original goal of 10,000 tests per day, and to date, 319,313 people have been tested for the virus statewide.

According to a Harvard study published this week, Illinois would have to conduct about 19,000 tests per day to accurately gauge the number of infections in the state, and health experts say federal and state governments' failure to test enough people is the biggest barrier to reopening the country.

The latest deaths in Illinois include:

• Cook County: 2 males 40s, 3 females 50s, 3 males 50s, 4 females 60s, 7 males 60s, 1 female 70s, 9 males 70s, 5 females 80s, 5 males 80s, 4 females 90s, 4 males 90s
• DuPage County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
• Jefferson County: 1 male 80s
• Kane County: 1 male 70s
• Lake County: 1 male 30s, 1 female 70s
• Madison County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 90s
• Monroe County: 1 female 90s
• Will County: 1 female 70s
• Winnebago County: 1 male 50s, 1 female 60s, 1 female 70s, 2 females 90s

"Our stay-at-home order and mitigation efforts have worked," Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Sunday, adding that the state has begun to return ventilators borrowed from other states as hospitalizations peak across Illinois.

But even though the governor credits the stay-at-home order with saving lives, that hasn't stopped two Republican lawmakers and a Christian church from challenging it in court. State Rep. John Cabello filed suit April 29, a day after a downstate judge ruled state Rep. Darren Bailey, a Xenia Republican, exempt from the order. The Beloved Church of Lena in Stephenson County is also suing Pritzker, claiming he "flagrantly violated" Illinoisans' constitutional rights by deeming religious services nonessential.

Nearly 7 million Americans have been tested for the coronavirus since the outbreak began, while more than 175,000 people in the U.S. have recovered. Globally, more than 3.4 million people have been infected with the new coronavirus and nearly a quarter million have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.

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

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In Illinois, 3,317 additional people have tested positive for the new coronavirus in Illinois and 105 more people have died.

Protesters Rally Against Illinois Coronavirus Stay-At-Home Order

"We are desperately worried. We're in this horrible state. Ultimately, we've got to talk reality," Ex-Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran said.

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Catholic Group Holds Prayer Vigil To Reopen Churches

Members of the newly formed St. Charles Borromeo Society want the Archdiocese of Chicago to reopen churches now.

Coronavirus: Church Sues To End Illinois Stay-At-Home Order

The lawsuit alleges Gov. J.B. Pritzker "flagrantly violated" Illinoisans' constitutional rights by deeming religious services nonessential.

Coronavirus: IL Now Ranks 4th For Cases In The U.S.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker attributed Illinois' ranking to the increase in testing.

Coronavirus: IL Stores Already Require Masks Ahead Of State Order

Costco, Menards among stores already requiring face coverings ahead of the extended stay-at-home order in Illinois.

Coronavirus In Lake County: Memorial Day Parade Cancellations

Officials in Mundelein decided during a Monday board meeting to cancel the village's Memorial Day parade due to the coronavirus pandemic.

2nd State Rep Sues To Stop Gov's Coronavirus Stay-At-Home Order

State Rep. John Cabello filed suit challenging Gov. J.B. Pritzker's executive order Wednesday in Winnebago County Circuit Court.

Illinois Coronavirus: Airlines Want To Ax Flights To Chicago

Delta, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines on Tuesday asked for approval to suspend flights to more than two dozen U.S. airports.

Workers At United Scrap Metal Walk Off Job After Colleague Dies Of Coronavirus

Workers at United Scrap Metal in Cicero demanded the company shut down for two weeks to sanitize the facility.

Coronavirus by the numbers:

Illinois:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 61,499
• Deaths: 2,618
• People tested: 319,313
• Recovered: No data available

Nationwide:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 1,154,340
• Deaths: 67,447
• People tested: 6,816,347
• Recovered: 175,382

Global:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 3,494,671
• Deaths: 246,475
• People tested: No data available
• Recovered: 1,114,898

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.