(WTTW News)

On the eve of Christmas Eve, state health officials reported nearly 19,000 new and probable cases of COVID-19 in a 24-hour period, breaking the record for highest single-day case count set just Wednesday.

There were 18,942 new and probable cases of COVID-19 recorded in the past 24 hours by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Officials also reported 78 deaths on Thursday.

The grim milestone comes amid a surge in cases fueled by the arrival of the omicron variant and holiday gatherings.

More than 2 million people have been infected with COVID-19 and 27,435 have died in Illinois since the pandemic began in early 2020, according to state health data.

The seven-day statewide test positivity rate is now 8.6%.

All of Illinois’ 102 counties are experiencing high transmission of COVID-19, defined by IDPH as areas with more than 100 cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day period.

In Cook County, the average seven-day case rate per 100,000 people is 639.33, according to state data.

Chicago is now recording 2,345 cases per day based on a seven-day average, according to Chicago Department of Public Health data. In the past week, the number of cases has increased 117%, according to city data.

The city’s COVID-19 test positivity rate is now 8.6%, up 4.4% from a week ago.

More than 7.6 million Illinois residents, or 60% of the state’s population, are fully vaccinated, according to state vaccine data. Of those eligible to be vaccinated (residents ages 5 and up), 68% are fully vaccinated, according to IDPH data.

Contact Kristen Thometz: @kristenthometz | (773) 509-5452 |  [email protected]