The state of Illinois has reported more than 10,000 new cases of coronavirus this weekend alone, marking a continuing upward trend in case numbers and positivity rates.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the state exceeded 6,000 new cases in a single day for the first time ever Saturday, with 6,161 new cases reported. The state reported more than 4,000 new cases on Sunday.
Those numbers come as the state sees multiple regions nearing new restrictions that could go into effect in the near future, as Region 4 could see new mitigations in the coming week, with Region 9 not far behind, according to new data released Sunday.
Here are the latest coronavirus headlines from around the state of Illinois:
The Latest Details on Illinois’ Regional Coronavirus Metrics
Multiple Illinois regions are nearing thresholds for new coronavirus mitigation strategies, as areas in both the southwestern part of the state and in the northeastern corner of the state could see those rules put into place.
On Sunday, Illinois’ Region 4 reported a positivity rate of over 8% for the third consecutive day, potentially meaning that restrictions could go back into effect for a region that has already seen bars and restaurants shut down for indoor service for a period of time during the pandemic.
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Elsewhere, Region 9, comprised of McHenry and Lake counties, saw its positivity rate increase to 7.9% on Sunday, putting it just shy of the threshold that would trigger new coronavirus restrictions.
You can find the most up-to-date metrics here.
Illinois Reports More Than 4,000 New Coronavirus Cases Sunday
After a record setting day Saturday, Illinois reported 4,062 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, along with 24 additional deaths attributed to the virus.
Sunday’s new cases mark the fourth time in the last five days that the state has reported more than 4,000 new cases of the virus. The new numbers bring the statewide total to 374,256 cases of the virus since the pandemic began.
The 24 new fatalities bring the state’s death toll to 9,505, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
18-Year-Old LaGrange Student Dies After Lengthy COVID-19 Hospitalization
An 18-year-old suburban Chicago college student has died after a lengthy hospitalization due to COVID-19 complications, university officials in Ohio said Friday.
According to a letter sent out to students, faculty and staff at the University of Dayton, Michael Lang, 18, passed away Thursday after a long battle against the illness.
School officials say Lang, a LaGrange resident, left campus on Sept. 13 to return to the Chicago-area for remote study. Lang was in his first year of school in the College of Arts and Sciences, officials said.
Illinois Smashes Single-Day Record With 6,161 New Cases
Illinois’ recent surge in coronavirus cases took another alarming leap forward Saturday, as the state reported a single-day record 6,161 new cases of the virus along with 63 additional deaths.
The state’s new record smashes the previous mark of 4,942, which was set on Thursday. In all, more than 30,000 new coronavirus cases have been reported in the last seven days, another new record, and a total of 370,194 cases have been reported since the pandemic began.
Saturday’s 63 additional deaths bring the statewide total to 9,481 during the pandemic, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
