Just eight COVID-19 deaths were reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health on Monday, the state’s lowest daily death toll since late November. Hospitals across the state saw their lowest occupancy numbers since before Thanksgiving.
The state has averaged 107 deaths per day over the past week, a stretch that saw Cook County lose a total of 425 residents to the virus the worst week since mid-November 2020.
Nearly 700 fewer COVID-19 patients were hospitalized in Illinois Monday night than the state’s all-time record of 7,380 set on Jan. 12. Deaths dipped, too, Although hopeful, Northwestern Medical’s Dr. Sajal Tanna warned, "I wouldn’t let my guard down."
More Illinoisans are testing positive for COVID-19 each day than ever before an average of 32,501 per day over the last week and "unfortunately, right now, today, the hospitals are bearing the brunt," Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said. The spike is also resulting in more deaths, with 144 on Wednesday alone, the worst daily toll in over a year.
Nearly 4,800 Chicagoans are still testing positive each day on average about double any previous case surge the city has seen but that rate is down about 8% from last week, according to city data.