Pritzker hopes Illinois COVID-19 numbers are leveling off

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois reported an additional 43 deaths Sunday from COVID-19 and the largest one-day increase in coronavirus infections with more than 1,600, but Gov. J.B. Pritzker said even those numbers show signs that the state might be nearing the peak of the outbreak.

In a Chicago news conference which concluded his fourth straight week of daily briefings, Pritzker noted that the increase of 1,672 cases is in part because of increased testing. The number of deaths reported Sunday was the lowest in a week.

He said the numbers show that people are abiding by social distancing and other preventive measures, something he recognized was particularly hard on Easter Sunday, when worshipers accustomed to 'œtraditional celebrations of togetherness'ť had to watch services online.

'œI believe passionately that adapting our expressions of faith in these times is one of the most faithful acts of all,'ť Pritzker said, 'œto hold our beliefs steadfast even as we defend ourselves against unprecedented challenges.'ť

Illinois now has 20,852 known cases of COVID-19, and 720 people have died because of its complications.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for others, especially older people and the infirm, it can cause severe symptoms and lead to death.

There were nearly 8,000 tests run for the illness in the previous 24 hours, said Pritzker, who believes they must increase to 10,000 daily to track and overcome the pandemic. But he's not confident of a swift re-opening of the economy something President Donald Trump has suggested in at least a limited fashion by as early as May.

Other governors have pushed back against Trump's wishes, and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, appearing Sunday on CBS' 'œFace the Nation,'ť agreed.

'œWe cannot open up the economy until we make sure that we've got all the healthcare controls in place," Lightfoot said. "That means widespread testing, contact tracing, and we've got to see not just a flattening of the curve, but a bending down.'ť

Many authorities say that can't happen without the continued business closings, stay-at-home rules, and social distancing protocol. Pritzker started wearing a mask in public last week, the day the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended it to limit transmission of the virus, which is spread by droplets projected by talking, sneezing or coughing.

But each day, Pritzker and his public health director, Dr. Ngoze Ezike, who was given the day off Sunday, enter the briefing room masked, only to take them off when they speak. Pritzker said he and Ezike keep an appropriate distance from each other and others in the room and are careful not to touch their faces after touching the lectern or microphone, which he said are cleaned each day.

'œIt's important for people to see my face, and for me to be able to project properly,'ť Pritzker said. 'œWe're doing it I think in the safest possible way given all the circumstances.'ť

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Check out more of the AP's coronavirus coverage at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

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