Illinois has largest one-day increase in coronavirus deaths, including 2 in metro-east
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Tuesday marked Illinois’ largest single-day increase in deaths due to the COVID-19 respiratory disease, including two metro-east residents.
There have been 73 deaths since Monday, bringing the death toll to 380, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said during his daily news conference Tuesday. Included in that total are a woman from Madison County and a man from Monroe County, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Both metro-east residents were in their 80s.
“Now, I’ve said all along that this would get worse before it gets better, but speaking the truth in no way softens the blow when it does, in fact, get worse,” Pritzker said. “... There are so many tragedies here: the countless family members, loved ones, friends and neighbors who grieve; the indefinite delay of funerals and celebrations of life; the fact that this will not be the last day that we say goodbye to our fellow Illinoisans because of the terrible toll of COVID-19.
“It’s OK to let yourself feel all the pain there is to feel today. I, too, am grieving. But I want you to know that my grief is only fueling my efforts to fight this virus and win.”
Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, reported that 80% of the people who have died were at least 60 years old. But she noted that the state has seen people of all ages die during the coronavirus pandemic, including an infant in Chicago.
The number of COVID-19 patients in Illinois increased by 1,287 Tuesday — from 12,262 to 13,549, according to numbers provided by the state. A member of the governor’s office is among those who tested positive, according to Pritzker. He said it was a cautionary tale for Illinoisans that “even among those who are most attentive and taking the most precautions,” like members of his staff, it is still possible to contract the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
“Let this just affirm what we already know: nobody is immune,” Pritzker said.
The governor entered the room for Tuesday’s news conference wearing a mask.
Many patients are getting better after COVID-19 diagnoses, according to Ezike. She said the state sent an electronic survey to COVID-19 patients to find out how many had recovered.
With a 40% response rate, Ezike said 43% indicated they recovered seven days after their positive diagnoses.
Pritzker said 3,680 people in Illinois are hospitalized; they had either tested positive for COVID-19 or they are suspected to have the disease.
As of Monday, 43% of the total hospital beds in the state were available, along with 35% of intensive care unit beds and 57% of ventilators, according to Pritzker.
He specifically mentioned the Edwardsville region, where he said “just 33%” of ICU beds were available. There are 105 total ICU beds and 70 are currently in use, the governor further stated in a news release. The state defines the Edwardsville region as an area of 18 health departments from Sagamon County to Randolph County.
Farther south in the Marion area, almost 76% of ICU beds are available.
This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 3:24 PM.
