A cashier works at a register as he covers his face with a bandana at a Jewel Osco grocery store in Mount Prospect, Ill., Saturday, April 4, 2020. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends Americans consider wearing cloth or fabric face covering in public spaces such as grocery stores and public transit stations to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The number of confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus have increased by about 1,400 in Illinois, according to state health officials.
Illinois has 10,357 reported confirmed positive cases and 243 deaths across 68 counties, the state's Department of Public Health said Saturday in a release.
On Friday, just over 8,900 confirmed positive cases were reported.
The number of deaths rose by 33 between Friday and Saturday. About two dozen were in Cook County.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who has issued a statewide stay-at-home order, on Friday recommended for the first time that people wear face coverings when venturing outside.
'œThis virus can be spread through droplets, like when you sneeze or cough,'ť Pritzker said. 'œSo, blocking that by wearing a mask in public seems like a commonsense way to do what's right for everyone. The most important thing you could do frankly is stay home.'ť
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and death.
A customer wears a mask as she shops at a Jewel Osco grocery store in Mount Prospect, Ill., Saturday, April 4, 2020. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends Americans consider wearing cloth or fabric face covering in public spaces such as grocery stores and public transit stations to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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Discarded latex gloves lie on the ground outside of a Walmart store in Vernon Hills, Ill., Saturday, April 4, 2020. Experts say it is more important to wash hands and avoid touching face than to wear gloves when grocery shopping. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Associated Press
A hiring sign is seen at Jewel Osco in Mount Prospect, Ill., Saturday, April 4, 2020. Essential businesses like grocery stores and delivery services are hiring for thousand of open positions to accommodate overwhelming demand during the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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A Hobby Lobby store is seen in Vernon Hills, Ill., Saturday, April 4, 2020. Hobby Lobby is temporarily closing all stores nationally and furloughing employees without pay in midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Associated Press
Information signs are seen at a Hobby Lobby store in Vernon Hills, Ill., Saturday, April 4, 2020. Hobby Lobby is temporarily closing all stores nationally and furloughing employees without pay in midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Associated Press
Information signs are posted before entering a Walmart store in Vernon Hills, Ill., Saturday, April 4, 2020. Walmart will limit the number of customers allowed and create one-way traffic inside its stores during coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Associated Press
Customers leave after shopping at a Walmart store in Vernon Hills, Ill., Saturday, April 4, 2020. Walmart will limit the number of customers allowed and create one-way traffic inside its stores during coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Associated Press
Employees of Best Buy place an item in a customer's trunk in Vernon Hills, Ill., Saturday, April 4, 2020. Best Buy has announced it is closing all of its locations temporarily except for curbside pickup services. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Associated Press