148 More Illinoisans Dead, 10,526 New Virus Cases Reported Friday

ILLINOIS — The coronavirus has claimed 148 more lives in Illinois, state health officials said Friday. While the number is still higher than at almost any other time during the pandemic, it has fallen slightly from record highs reported earlier this week. Wednesday saw Illinois' deadliest day of the pandemic with 238 deaths, while Thursday saw the second deadliest with 192 deaths. The state on Friday also reported 10,526 new coronavirus infections, for a total of 770,088 since the pandemic began.

In all, 12,974 Illinoisans have now died from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus. The latest deaths include:

• Adams County: 1 male 90s
• Boone County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 male 90s
• Champaign County: 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
• Christian County: 1 male 90s
• Coles County: 1 male 80s
• Cook County: 2 females 40s, 3 females 60s, 4 males 60s, 3 females 70s, 5 males 70s, 4 females 80s, 5 females 90s
• Crawford County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 90s
• Douglas County: 1 female 70s
• DuPage County: 1 male 30s, 3 females 60s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 2 females 80s, 1 male 90s, 1 female 100+
• Edwards County: 1 female 90s
• Effingham County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s
• Fayette County: 1 male 70s
• Ford County: 1 male 80s
• Franklin County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 90s
• Fulton County: 1 male 80s
• Greene County: 2 females 80s
• Grundy County: 1 male 70s
• Iroquois County: 1 female 70s
• Johnson County: 1 female 60s
• Kane County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s
• Kankakee County: 1 male 40s, 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s
• Kendall County: 1 male 70s
• Knox County: 1 male 90s
• Lake County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 70s, 4 males 80s
• LaSalle County: 2 males 70s, 2 females 90s, 1 male 90s
• Logan County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 70s
• Macon County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s
• Macoupin County: 1 male 80s, 1 female 100+
• Madison County: 1 female 70s
• Mason County: 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
• Massac County: 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
• McHenry County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
• Ogle County: 1 female 80s
• Peoria County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 100+
• Perry County: 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
• Randolph County: 2 females 90s
• Rock Island County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
• Sangamon County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 70s, 1 female 100+
• Shelby County: 1 male 80s
• St. Clair County: 2 males 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
• Stephenson County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
• Tazewell County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
• Vermilion County: 1 female 90s
• Warren County: 1 male 80s
• Washington County: 1 male 70s
• Wayne County: 1 female 60s, 1 female 80s
• Whiteside County: 1 male 50s, 1 female 90s
• Will County: 1 male 40s, 3 males 60s, 1 female 70s, 3 males 70s
• Winnebago County: 2 females 70s, 3 males 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s

New reported cases had declined for several days, but have now risen past 10,000 again in a possible post-Thanksgiving surge. Health officials had feared family gatherings could serve as superspreader events, and it has now been a week since the Thanksgiving holiday — the median incubation period of the virus is 4-5 days, according to the CDC. If a spike from Thanksgiving is here, it would be expected to continue for about another week.

But even as new cases continue to mount, there are signs of light at the end of the tunnel. Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the state health department, in a call with Illinois mayors on Thursday, said she expects the first vaccine to be approved next Friday, with 110,000 doses available for the state within a few days. A second batch of 250,000 doses should be available the next week, with 300,000 more following the third week.

Reports on Monday indicated shipments of the vaccine are already coming into O'Hare Airport in Chicago.

The FDA's committee on vaccines will meet to consider emergency use authorization for Pfizer's vaccine on Dec. 10 — just enough time for it to double-check the drug company's data, the agency said. Pfizer's vaccine was just approved in the United Kingdom and Cambridge-based Moderna's vaccine is hot on its heels. If approved in the United States, Pfizer said it hopes to have 40 million doses of the vaccine to Americans by the end of the year.

It can't come soon enough. And for many, it won't.

As with deaths, positivity rates and hospitalizations remain near all-time highs, though they have declined slighly in recent days.

"We had hoped to see more progress in lowering hospitalizations by now," Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday. "The challenge we face was highlighted over the weekend by Dr. Anthony Fauci, who offered a bleak outlook and a warning that over the next two or three weeks we may see a surge upon a surge related to the holidays."

Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, told the governor that he believes this is no time to pull back on mitigations, Pritzker said.

Hospitalizations fell about 3.5 percent from Thursday, though the number of patients on ventilators ticked up slightly. As of Thursday night, 5,453 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 across Illinois, including 1,153 in intensive care and 703 on ventilators.

The statewide case positivity rate — a rolling, seven-day average — is now 10.3 percent, 0.1 percentage points lower than the previous day.

(The positivity rate is the number the state has reported since the start of the pandemic and is calculated by dividing total cases detected by total tests performed. Another way to calculate the positivity rate is to divide the number of positive tests by total tests performed. By that calculation, the test positivity rate is 12.1 percent.)

According to Johns Hopkins University, a positivity rate of less than 5 percent is a good measure of whether enough tests are being conducted, and state officials have said a rate higher than 8 percent will trigger new restrictions in a given region.

See how your region is doing here.

The United States now has more than 14.2 million confirmed coronavirus infections, and at least 277,693 Americans have died from COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University. Based on the latest predictions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 303,000 to 329,000 Americans could be dead from the disease by the day after Christmas.

Globally, more than 65.6 million people have been infected and more than 1.5 million are known to have died.

Illinois Patch Local Business Information Center

As local and state economies slowly emerge from pandemic lockdowns, it's often hard for customers to know the conditions under which local businesses are open. The business center contains easily accessible and up-to-date information about scores of local businesses, including everything from operating hours to the availability of by-appointment services, quick website links and other contact information. It's free to use and free for businesses to join.

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

Coronavirus Vaccine Wait Time: Where You Stand In Cook County

The New York Times, the Surgo Foundation and Ariadne Labs used their vaccine tool to calculate where you stand in line for vaccination.

Hospital Beds 'Not Infinite,' Pritzker Says On IL's Deadliest Day

Public health officials reported 238 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, the state's largest single-day increase of the pandemic.

Deaths From Coronavirus Taking Place At Almost 2 Per Minute

Latest U.S. coronavirus news: Two on plane despite positive test, cops said; ex-presidents say they'll take vaccine; hospitals overwhelmed.

Kendall Co. Seeks Volunteers For Mass COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign

Individuals who are licensed to deliver vaccinations are needed, as well as individuals proficient at data entry and other supportive roles.

Schools To Reopen Monday In Geneva D304 After Closing Amid Surge

Students are set to return to classrooms Monday following District 304's "adaptive pause" as coronavirus cases quickly rose in the region.

Are You Confident In A COVID-19 Vaccine? Take IL Patch's Survey

Doses of the Pfizer vaccine recently arrived in Chicago. Will you get vaccinated when it's available?

Love Story Over 56 Years In The Making, Ends In COVID-19 Death

Oak Forest couple Aldo and Joanne Murer were married for 56 years before Aldo died from COVID. His last words to Joanne: "Don't leave me."

Naperville Votes Down Mask Mandate: Report

The city council voted 5-4 against a measure that would have required residents to wear face coverings when not six feet from other people.

St. Louis COVID Vaccinations Could Start Dec. 17, BJC Emails Say

Washington University and Barnes Jewish West County Hospital in Creve Coeur, Missouri, are named as possible vaccination sites.

Married For 47 Years, Couple Dies Of Coronavirus At Same Moment

Latest U.S. coronavirus news: Congress restarts stimulus talks; CDC to recommend who gets vaccine first; parents sue California schools.

Nurse Helps COVID Patients Say Good-Bye To Their Family

After her first year as a nurse, COVID hit. She quickly moved into ICU helping patients say goodbye to family with no visitors allowed doing all this while planning a wedding.

Mom Who Lost 3 Kids In Tragic Deaths Dies From COVID-19

Angeline Pindel was 95 years old. A member of Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, she is remembered for her patience and strong faith.

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

Coronavirus by the numbers:

Illinois:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 770,088
• Confirmed Deaths: 12,974
• People tested: 10,918,998
• Recovered: Illinois does not provide exact numbers of recovered cases, but says the recovery rate is 97 percent.

Nationwide:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 14,249,105
• Deaths: 277,693
• People tested: 197,409,766
• Recovered: 5,404,018

Global:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 65,627,738
• Deaths: 1,514,034
• People tested: No data available
• Recovered: 42,150,251

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