(WTTW News)
Election Day is just about here. If you haven’t cast a ballot yet, there’s still time to do so.
But if you plan to vote in person, state health officials have some requests.
“Please make sure you take precautions. Please make sure your mask is securely fitted over both your nose and mouth,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said Monday. “And please make your selections before you get to the polling booth so you can get in and out as quickly as possible.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker echoed that sentiment and urged residents to bring mail-in ballots to secure drop box locations rather than mailing them through the U.S. Postal Service.
“No matter how you vote, don’t forget to wear a mask and keep your distance,” he said.
He also reminded asked voters to be patient, as complete election results could come in days after the election.
“For the next few days, it’s very important you don’t get your election news over social media,” Pritzker said, noting that “foreign actors” are posing as Americans to spread disinformation via social media platforms. “Be wary of claims you see on social media,” he said.
State health officials on Monday reported 6,222 new cases of COVID-19 and 20 virus-related deaths. To date, there have been 423,502 cases and 9,810 deaths in Illinois since the first infection was reported in late January.
With Monday marking the conclusion of Dia de los Muertos, Ezike said: “This year we honor the lives of the over 9,800 lost to COVID-19. It’s nothing less than tragic that we’ve lost so many. … I grieve with everyone who’s been affected.”
The seven-day statewide positivity rate for cases as a percentage of total tests is now 8.1%, IDPH reported Monday. A week ago, that rate was 6.3%, according to IDPH data.
Test positivity across the state — the number of positive tests as a percentage of total tests — is 9.7%. That rate is the same in Chicago and slightly higher in County (10.1%), IDPH regional data shows.
According to the IDPH, “Case positivity and test positivity rate are both relevant and offer insight into the bigger COVID-19 picture. Case positivity helps us understand whether changes in the number of confirmed cases is due to more testing or due to more infections. Whereas, test positivity accounts for repeated testing and helps us understand how the virus is spreading in the population over time.”
By Wednesday, every one of the state’s 11 regions will be operating under mitigation restrictions designed to curb the spread of COVID-19. Mitigations began Monday for region 6 (East-Central Illinois), and will begin Wednesday in region 2 (North-Central Illinois).
Positivity rates increased in every region of the state during the past week, Pritzker said.
“The virus is spreading and every region of the state is suffering,” he said. “This is one of the worst increases across the state since the spring.”
As of Sunday night, 3,371 people in Illinois were hospitalized with COVID-19, and of those, 722 were in intensive care units and 298 on ventilators, according to IDPH.
In the past 24 hours, labs processed 68,118 specimens, with more than 7.8 million completed to date, according to state data.
“I’ve seen and heard about lines and cars and people at testing sites across the state. I’d like to thank all those responsible Illinoisans of taking advantage of all the available testing ensuring they know their status,” Ezike said. “By going to get a COVID-19 test, you’re not only taking care of your health, but the health of your family and community as well.”
Contact Kristen Thometz: @kristenthometz | (773) 509-5452 | [email protected]
