COVID-19 cases in Illinois now top one million.
With more than 87-hundred new cases added on Thursday, Illinois now has had 1,008,045 cases of COVID infection since the pandemic began early last year.
State Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike says it’s important that everyone continue to wear a mask, wash hands frequently and avoid large gatherings.
“We still have a long way to go, but we are definitely on our way. The vaccine continues to be limited and we are working with providers to get what vaccine we do have into the arms of Illinoisans as quickly as possible,” said Ezike.
Although most COVID patients have recovered, the state has lost more than 17,000 people to the virus.
The Statewide positivity rate is now 8.5-percent. The Southern Illinois Region has dropped to 11.2-percent. The Marion County rate bounced back up to 11.7-percent. The Metro-East Region positivity rate is 13.5-percent. The East Central Illinois Rate for the week ending January 4th is at 9.5-percent.
