Health
Illinois Records Nearly 5,000 Cases for First Time Since January
(WTTW News)
The number of new COVID-19 infections has been steadily increasing over the past month and on Friday neared 5,000 for the first time in a 24-hour period since January, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The 4,904 new confirmed and probable cases of the virus reported Friday mark the highest single-day total since Jan. 23, when the state reported 5,152 cases.
The seven-day statewide positivity rate is now 5.3%, up from 1.9% for the week of July 9-15, according to IDPH data.
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 120.01, according to state data.
Chicago is now recording 462 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 25%, according to city data.
The city’s COVID-19 test positivity rate is now 4.7%, up from 3.8% a week ago. Everyone in Chicago, regardless of their vaccination status, must wear a mask indoors starting Friday.
Since Aug. 13, state health officials have reported 24,682 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 126 deaths, including 46 on Wednesday alone.
Contact Kristen Thometz: @kristenthometz | (773) 509-5452 | [email protected]
