State reports lowest daily COVID-19 death count in over two months

Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday he’s increasingly optimistic Illinois is on the back-half of the COVID-19 curve after the state recorded its lowest daily death tally in two months.

There were 23 COVID-19 related deaths on Monday, bringing the state’s total death count to 5,924. Monday’s number is the lowest since there were 26 deaths reported on March 30.

Speaking at an unrelated press conference, Pritzker said the number he’s focused on is the positivity rate of COVID-19 tests. Over the past seven days, 5 percent of processed tests have come back positive.

“As that number goes down, it gives us some confidence level about trying to open things up even more,” he said.

An additional 658 cases were reported on Monday, bringing the state’s total COVID-19 cases to 128,415 in 101 counties.

Officials have previously said that Monday numbers may be lower as they await reports of cases and deaths over the weekend.

As of Monday morning, 40 percent of Illinois’ 35,046 hospital beds were available. Forty-three percent of the state’s 3,888 ICU beds were open, as were 76 percent of its 5,853 ventilators.

All four regions that are part of Pritzker’s reopening plan are meeting all metrics necessary to move to phase four, which would allow gatherings of up to 50 people and indoor dining. The earliest the regions may move to the next phase is June 26.

State officials said they continue to monitor the potential impact that recent large gatherings and protests may have on the spread of the virus.

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