State reports 2,630 new COVID-19 cases, 42 more deaths
New cases of COVID-19 came to 2,630 and additional deaths totaled 42 Wednesday, as Illinois surpassed 6 million tests and Gov. J.B. Pritzker warned of some infection rates going in the wrong direction.
After the percentage of tests showing positive results declined in a number of regions last week, "that progress has cooled off a bit across Illinois," Pritzker said at a briefing.
He noted that Lake and McHenry counties (Region 9) plus far southern Illinois (Region 5) were "actually flipping from decreasing to increasing positivity," while some other areas remained status quo.
The positivity rates in Lake and McHenry counties hit 5.7% based on a seven-day average as of Saturday compared to 5% on Sept. 25, state data showed Wednesday.
"Our counties continue to work together and closely monitor our regional data and keep residents informed," Lake County Public Health Department spokeswoman Hannah Goering said.
"We've had a slight increase in testing positivity over the past week, but we have had relatively stable or improving testing positivity and hospitalizations in the past month. We continue to encourage our residents to follow public health recommendations to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities."
Wednesday's tally of new cases is the highest since Sept. 5. Daily cases averaged 2,052 in the last seven days, compared to 1,945 from Sept. 24 to Sept. 30. a 5.5% increase.
Statewide, COVID-19 cases stand at 307,641 since the pandemic began and deaths from the disease total 8,878, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported.
One region in northwestern Illinois, including Rockford and Galena, and another near St. Louis continue to operate under restrictions because of high positivity rates.
Illinois' COVID-19 test positivity rate is 3.5% based on a seven-day average.
Labs reported 58,820 test results in the last 24 hours for a total of 6,033,289 since the pandemic started.
Pritzker advised Illinoisans on how to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 on Election Day, Nov. 3. "Choose to vote early in person or to vote by mail to reduce the size of crowds at polling places on Election Day - that will help everyone keep their distance."
He also encouraged younger and middle-aged people to work as election judges given that numerous seniors who typically volunteer are sidelined because they are in a high-risk group for COVID-19.
Pritkzer was asked if Illinois will need to borrow funds after President Donald Trump, who is recovering from COVID-19, canceled talks with Democrats on a federal virus stimulus plan Tuesday.
"Even though the president has apparently thrown the talks into disarray now that he's ... I don't know ... on a cocktail of steroids coming out of the hospital," both Democratic and Republican states need financial aid, Pritzker said. "I still anticipate that Congress will step up to the plate with a support package for state and local governments."
Illinois hospitals had 1,679 patients with the virus as of Tuesday night, higher than the seven-day average of 1,622.
Pritzker, who is quarantining after a staff member contracted the virus Sept. 28, said he is in good health and has tested negative twice for the virus.