Illinois reports single-day high in COVID-19 deaths, passes 2,000 total deaths

Illinois officials announced Tuesday that 144 more people have died from COVID-19, the highest single-day amount since the pandemic began. It has now claimed the lives of more than 2,000 Illinoisans.

The new deaths surpass the previous single-day high of 125, which was set twice earlier this month. A total of 2,125 Illinoisans have died from COVID-19.

Eighty percent of the new deaths were from northern Illinois, said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. Fourteen percent were from southern Illinois and 6 percent from central Illinois.

She said about 44 percent were white, 28 percent were African American, 13 percent Hispanic and 8 percent Asian.

There were 2,219 new cases reported on Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 48,102 in 96 counties.

A total of 242,189 tests have been completed.

Ezike also provided the latest numbers from the department’s survey of Illinoisans who have tested positive for COVID-19.

About 49 percent of patients who responded said their symptoms went away within two weeks of testing positive, while 61 percent said their symptoms went away within four weeks of testing positive. Seventy-four percent of respondents said they had recovered after four weeks of their positive test.

“I hope that’s seen as encouraging news, that people do recover,” Ezike said. “We mourn the loss of all the lives, and we’re sorry for all those who have had to endure a battle in the hospital, but the majority of individuals do recover.”

Gov. JB Pritzker also used Tuesday’s press conference to again call out Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, a day after a Clay County judge sided with the representative in a lawsuit against the extended stay-at-home order.

Pritzker called the lawsuit a “cheap political stunt” by Bailey to get media attention, as he noted the ruling only applies to Bailey.

As the state prepares to challenge the ruling, Pritzker said he was optimistic that the courts will reverse the decision. When asked if he has a backup plan in case the courts uphold Monday’s ruling, Pritzker reiterated his belief that the modified stay-at-home order will be upheld.

“Because of the threat to public health from this court order and the fact that the state has acted well within its legal authority to protect the health of the public, the state is appealing immediately,” he said.

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