2,818 new known Illinois COVID-19 cases and 35 more deaths

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois Department of Public Health on Friday reported 2,818 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, including 35 confirmed deaths.

As health officials released the latest coronavirus numbers, the state eased restrictions on activities in the Metro East region. Officials say the region is returning to phase four rules that allow indoor dining and bar service and gatherings of up to 50 people. The region outside St. Louis was the first in Illinois to see a scaled back reopening in August after it passed a state-set threshold of an 8% positivity rate for three consecutive days.

Also on Friday, Lake County was added to the list of counties under warning for a potential resurgence of the coronavirus, state health officials said Friday. The weekly list from the IDPH includes 26 counties, down from 28 a week earlier.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Illinois since the start of pandemic reached 313,518 with Friday's numbers and the death toll has reached 8,945. Friday's cases is the result of 71,599 new tests in the last 24 hours, which puts the seven-day statewide positivity rate at 3.8%.