Illinois officials announce new Clinton County coronavirus case, first death in Chicago
READ MORE
Keep up with all the coronavirus news in southwestern Illinois
Stay updated with the events in southwestern Illinois that have been canceled or postponed because of coronavirus concerns.
Expand All
A Chicago woman in her 60s has died from coronavirus, the first death from the disease in the state, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced Tuesday.
State officials also announced that a second person has tested positive for the COVID-19 respiratory illness in Clinton County, bringing the total cases in the metro-east to four.
The woman who died had underlying health issues and had been in contact with another person infected with COVID-19, state officials said in a Tuesday news conference.
“I am deeply saddened by the news that we’ve dreaded since the earliest days of this outbreak: the first COVID-19 related death in Illinois,” Governor JB Pritzker said in a statement. “All of Illinois stands with this patient’s family and loved ones in mourning her loss and honoring her memory. May her memory be a blessing. There are going to be moments during the next few weeks and months when this burden feels like it is more than we can bear — this is one of those moments, but we will get through this together.”
Officials also reported an outbreak of coronavirus at a long-term care facility in Illinois. A total of 22 cases were reported at the facility since the weekend, 17 residents and five staff members.
“Residents in nursing homes are our most vulnerable population and we are doing everything we can to protect them,” said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. “We may see cases in other long-term care facilities, which is why it is so important that we all do our part to reduce possible exposure in the community to those who go in and out of these facilities as they provide care to resident.”
There are now 160 cases in 15 counties in Illinois, including 55 since Monday afternoon. State officials noted that the rise in the number of cases is due in part to an increase in testing.
Here’s how the coronavirus has spread in Illinois, according to previous announcements from state officials about new cases:
- Jan. 24: First two cases.
- Feb. 28: One new case.
- March 2: One new case.
- March 5: One new case.
- March 7: One new case.
- March 9: Four new cases.
- March 10: Nine new cases, for a total of 19.
- March 11: Six new cases, for a total of 25.
- March 12: Seven new cases, for a total of 32.
- March 13: 14 new cases, for a total of 46.
- March 14: 18 new cases, including two in St. Clair County, for a total of 64.
- March 15: 29 new cases, including one in Clinton County, for a total of 93.
- March 16: 12 news cases, for a total of 105.
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 3:14 PM.
