Report: More than 55 percent of Illinois’ COVID-19 deaths from long-term care facilities

More than 55 percent of COVID-19 deaths in Illinois are linked to long-term care facilities, according to the latest state data.

As of Friday, 3,649 deaths had been reported among those facilities’ residents and workers. That accounted for 55.4 percent of the state’s 6,580 COVID-related deaths reported that day.

That’s up slightly from last week, when it was 54.8 percent. At least 21,476 long-term care facility residents or workers have tested positive for COVID-19.

The week-to-week growth in deaths and cases at facilities has slowed. The additional 216 deaths and 926 cases reported on Friday are down from the 380 deaths and 2,213 cases reported the prior week.

Illinois officials reported 68 more COVID-19 related deaths over the weekend, bringing the state’s total death count to 6,647.

An additional 1,292 total cases were reported over the weekend, bringing the state’s total to 136,762 in 101 counties.

As of Sunday, a total of 1,360,784 COVID-19 tests have been completed. The positivity rate for tests over the past seven days is 2 percent.

Forty-two percent of Illinois’ 35,212 hospital beds were available as of Sunday morning. Forty-seven percent of the state’s 3,878 ICU beds were available, as were 75 percent of its 5,919 ventilators.

All four regions of the state remain on track to enter phase four of Gov. JB Pritzker’s reopening plan by this Friday.

The Illinois Department of Public Health also issued guidance for how long-term care facilities may allow outdoor visitation for residents under certain criteria. Visitation will be limited to two visitors at a time per resident, and the maximum number of residents and visitors is dependent on outdoor space.

Facilities must enforce social distancing and face coverings. Visitors must schedule an appointment to visit a resident, and facilities must set a maximum number of visitors allowed in a single day.

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