Illinois reports another record death toll Saturday with coronavirus killing 125
Illinois officials said Saturday another 125 people have died from the COVID-19 respiratory disease.
It was the highest single-day death toll since Thursday, when 125 people also died.
There have now been a total of 1,259 deaths statewide, and 29,160 people diagnosed with the disease. That’s an increase of 1,585 new cases since Friday.
“Although our numbers continue to climb, it is with some guarded optimism that we say that the growth is slowing,” said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.
To date, 137,404 people in the state have been tested for COVID-19.
Groups helping others locally
During the daily briefing in Chicago on COVID-19, Gov. J.B. Pritzker highlighted the efforts of some metro-east agencies to help people during the coronavirus pandemic.
Among those he mentioned was Beverly Farm in Godfrey, a residential facility for people who have developmental disabilities. Pritzker said the agency “has found socially distant ways to offer their residents bowling and puzzles and board games, so there can be fun for the residents even while there is safety.”
Pritzker also mentioned a group of lawmakers and the Southern Illinois Community Foundation that he said created the Southern Illinois Strong campaign, which is selling T-shirts and collecting donations to support area small businesses.
“That’s the thing about Illinois,” Pritzker said. “Everywhere you look, there are people stepping in to fill the gaps in other people’s lives, being neighborly for their neighbors, being the kind of friend we want our kids to grow up to be.”
