Illinois surpasses 15,000 COVID-19 deaths Dec 18, 2020 | COVID-19 Update, Top Stories Illinois has surpassed 15,000 deaths from COVID-19, with the Illinois Department of Public Health reporting another 181 deaths on Friday.To access this content, you must purchase 1 Year Health News Illinois Subscription or 1 Year Group Subscription - Up to 5 Users, or log in if you are a member.