People, not president, must stop COVID-19, health chief says
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois reported 7,538 new cases of coronavirus illness Wednesday, and the state public health director reminded residents that regardless of who the nation's next leader is, it's up to individuals to stop the spread of the deadly diseases.
The number of cases is the next-to-highest single-day amount recorded since the pandemic hit Illinois in February, and included 55 additional deaths.
The outcome of Tuesday's election contest between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, in major part a referendum on Trump's handling of the pandemic that has contributed to the deaths of 233,535 nationwide, does not excuse Illinois residents from doing all they can to help contain the virus, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said.
'œWhoever is elected or re elected president does not absolve any one of us from taking personal responsibility to curb the transmission of COVID-19,'ť Ezike said during Gov. J.B. Pritzker's daily COVID-19 briefing in Chicago. 'œAgain, regardless of the occupants of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., our role is unchanged. So please, let's do our part. And let's encourage one another to do the right thing.'ť
The 'œright thing," according to health experts, is waring a facial covering over the nose and mouth, staying at least 6 feet away from others, and religiously washing hands.
The entire state is under 'œresurgence mitigations'ť because of troubling case, testing and hospitalization numbers. The mitigations that are part of Pritzker's 'œRestore Illinois'ť limit bar and restaurant service to outdoors and require service stop at 11 p.m. Gatherings are limited to 25 people or 25% of room capacity.
The state has recorded 437,556 cases of COVID-19 and is nearing the 10,000 fatality mark with 9,933.
There were 3,761 people hospitalized Wednesday, an increase of 31% in a week. The sickest patients - those who need ventilators - totaled 327, a 36% increase from the previous week.
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