Three Illinois counties now at ‘high’ community level of COVID-19

The number of Illinois counties where masks are recommended in indoor public spaces due to COVID-19 trends dropped to single digits on Thursday, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Three counties, Ford, Jefferson and Wayne, are at a “high” community level of COVID-19, down 17 from last week. Thirty-three counties are at a “medium” risk level.

As of Wednesday, 1,177 Illinoisans were in the hospital with COVID-19, up four from Tuesday and down 13 from the prior week.

The Department of Public Health reported 5,277 new COVID-19 cases and 11 new deaths on Thursday. The new cases bring the state total to 3,731,410, while the death toll is at 34,875.

The seven-day average for new cases on Thursday was 2,522, down 107 from the prior week. The seven-day average for daily deaths is nine, down three from the prior week.

The seven-day case rate per 100,000 people is 19.8, down 0.8 from the prior week.