Pedestrians in Chicago’s Northalsted neighborhood on a September day. (WTTW News)

Illinois’ number of COVID-19 cases continue to tick steadily upward toward 300,000, with state health officials confirming 2,514 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday.

That brings the state's total to 283,885 since Illinois recorded its first case in January.

After seeing the number of daily cases fall below 1,000 back in June, Illinois health officials are routinely reporting more than 2,000 new cases per day in recent weeks, as the number of specimens tested daily has risen from roughly 25,000 per day in June to closer to double that in September.

The Illinois Department of Public Health also reported 25 additional virus-related deaths on Friday. Seven of those deaths were Cook County residents, ranging in age from their 60s to over 100. Three new deaths were reported for DuPage County, one for Kane County and two for Will County.

The total number of virus-related deaths in Illinois is 8,563. The state’s rolling seven-day positivity rate is 3.6%.

Officials on Friday also warned that 17 counties were at a warning level for the virus, including Boone and Winnebago counties located in Region 1 which officials said earlier this week could see stricter mitigations if the area’s positivity rate continues to rise.

An increase in two or more risk indicators tracked by IDPH triggers a warning, including the number of deaths in a county, the number of new cases per 100,000 people and the availability of intensive care units.

According to the IDPH, outbreaks and an increase in infections in these 17 counties have been associated with college and university parties, large gatherings and events, bars and clubs, weddings, funerals, long-term facilities and schools. 

Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 |  [email protected]