Illinois records highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases, largely as a result of more tests

With 1,842 new cases of coronavirus diagnosed, Illinois experienced its highest single-day increase of infections since the state began releasing test results March 10.

Additionally, 62 more Illinois residents succumbed to the disease within 24 hours, state health officials announced Friday, bringing the state's death toll from the coronavirus outbreak to 1,134.

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike said the spike in new cases was expected given that the state also experienced the second-highest number of test results returned Friday, with 7,574 results logged. Only last Sunday did the state see more tests results in one day, with 7,956, according to IDPH figures. That corresponded with 1,672 new cases, a record increase at the time.

"We're not surprised to see more cases when there is the extra fact of the number of tests done on one day compared to another," she said. "It's very important to have the results of every test that happens in the state, but I don't think we've peaked."

To that end, the state has now tested 130,163 people, barely more than 1% of the state's population. Of those tested, 27,575 were positive for the infection, which is 21.1% of those tested.

But Gov. J.B. Pritzker believes the important figure to watch is the number of people hospitalized by the virus.

"We look at hospitalizations really as the most important number, or at least I do," he said. "The more we test, the more we're going to see positive tests. The bigger, more important number is the number of hospitalizations and (intensive care) beds."

Currently, the IDPH is reporting coronavirus patients are using 1,196 of the 2,979 ICU beds in the state's hospitals. They are also using 777 of the state's 3,213 ventilators.

However, only 926 of the state's ICU beds remain available, as well as 1,918 of the state's ventilator supply, as patients suffering other maladies also need the rooms and equipment.

In northern Illinois, the suburbs make up four IDPH hospital regions.

In the northeast region, which is essentially the eastern half of Lake County and the northeastern portion of suburban Cook County, just 35 of the 150 ICU beds and 66 of 131 ventilators are available.

In the northwest region, made up of western Lake County, all of McHenry and Kane counties, and northwestern Cook County, 118 of 307 ICU beds are available, and so are 186 of 297 ventilators.

In the west suburban region, which contains all of DuPage County and a small portion of western Cook County, 125 of 369 ICU beds are available, as are 125 of 322 ventilators.

In the southwest suburban region, only 95 of the 427 ICU beds and 149 of the 297 ventilators are available. This region contains southern Cook County and all of Will, Grundy and Kankakee counties, as well as a portion of Kendall County.

The state only recently began releasing these figures and doesn't provide any historical use data. But Pritzker remains optimistic about what he's seeing.

"With hospitalizations, we are seeing a flattening of that," he said. "But we haven't peaked."

The governor also announced students will not be returning to the classrooms this school year. He apologized for the circumstances and praised the work students and teachers have been doing since the outbreak began.

"The routine of school is a source of joy for so many," he said. "But it also opens up a nearly limitless opportunity for potential infections in a time when our health care workers, researchers, scientists and our first responders need us to bend the curve."

He said he hopes communities and school districts eventually will be able to find a way to honor students who are graduating but have missed out on many of the milestones of their senior year, including proms, senior nights and graduation.

"I know you're feeling sad about missing these rituals," he said. "There is room for you to feel all those things, big and small. You will get through this, though. You will talk about this for the rest of your lives. And you will go on to do amazing things."