There are seven COVID-19 related deaths being reported on Wednesday in South Central Illinois. It’s also another record-setting day for new COVID-19 cases in Illinois.
The State Department of Public Health is reporting 12,657 new infections and 145 additional deaths. That’s the highest daily death toll since the end of May.
The COVID-related deaths include three in Marion County, a female in her 40s, a male in his 70s, and a female in her 80s. Two deaths are being reported in Clinton County. They are a male in his 70s and a female in her 80s. Jefferson County has one death, a male in his 90s. Wayne County also had one death reported, a male in his 90s.
Governor JB Pritzker says the situation is very serious and that more restrictions may come.
“We are certainly looking at statewide mitigations. I do think local governments though, right now, if they are not imposing new mitigations and not enforcing the ones that are in place they are doing it wrong.”
Pritzker says everyone needs to do their part to keep numbers from growing even more in Illinois.
“Every state around us is at 20, 30, 40 plus percent. Iowa yesterday 48-percent positivity rate. Think about that, a 48-percent sensitivity rate. You run into two people in Iowa, two of them have COVID.”
The State Department of Public Health is now recommending that for the next three weeks people should work from home if possible and limit activities, travel and gatherings.
The state’s preliminary seven-day positivity rate has increased to 12.4-percent. The Southern Illinois Region’s positivity rate increased to 12.2-percent. Marion County’s rate is at 9.4-percent. The Metro East Region increased to 13.4-percent. The East Central Illinois Rate is at 12.2-percent.
