Two more COVID-19 related deaths were reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health on Saturday. The deaths were a female in her 50s in Jefferson County and a male in his 90s in Fayette County. They were among just 29 deaths statewide, the lowest number of deaths since November 13th.
However, state officials warn the low death rate along with the reporting of just 4,762 new cases could be low because of the New Year’s Holiday. The statewide positivity rate for the past week increased slightly to 8.3-percent.
The Southern Illinois Region positivity rate is at 12.3-percent for the week ending December 30th. The Marion County rate is at 10.2-percent. The Metro-East Region rate is 12.8-percent. The East Central Illinois Region is at 9-percent positivity.
IDPH reported 3,799 hospitalized with COVID-19. 783 of those patients were in ICU and 458 on ventilators.
