Illinois Public Health Officials are reporting 96 more deaths from COVID-19 on Thursday. They include a male in his 50s in Fayette County and a male in his 60s and a female in her 80s in Marion County. Two other deaths were recorded in Effingham County, a male in his 70s and a female in her 80s.
The only county to release new statistics on Thursday was Jefferson County. There were 30 new positive cases and confirmation of a male in his 80s as their 57th COVID-19 related death in the pandemic.
There were a total of 7,037 new COVID-19 cases reported statewide on Thursday. The statewide positivity rate for the week ending December 23rd dropped to 7.2-percent. In the Southern Illinois Region, the positivity rate for the week ending December 21st is 12.1-percent. In Marion County, the positivity rate is 9.4-percent. The Metro East Region positivity rate is 11.6-percent. The East Central Illinois Region positivity is 9.1-percent.
