The Illinois Department of Public Health Wednesday reported 12,657 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease in Illinois, including 145 additional deaths.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 523,840 cases, including 10,434 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 93,464 specimens for a total 8,664,483. As of last night, 5,042 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 951 patients were in the ICU and 404 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from November 34– November 10 is 12.4%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from November 4, 2020 – November 10, 2020 is 13.6%.
Sadly, another resident at the Illinois Veterans’ Home LaSalle (IVHL) has passed away. This is the seventh resident death at the home. Currently, there are 72 residents with COVID-19 and 72 employees.
The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) is in regular consultation with IDPH and the Federal Department of Veterans’ Affairs and is following all public health guidance. After the first positive tests at the facility on November 1, 2020, visitation was halted on November 2, 2020 and new admissions postponed. All positive residents are isolating in a separate wing of the facility. Over the summer, IDVA constructed 25 negative pressure rooms with capacity for 44 residents, which is now in use in this wing. IDVA is also ramping up the use of antigen testing in the facility in order to more rapidly test residents and staff.
To help decrease the positivity rate, IDPH recommends the following.
Work from Home if Possible
For the next three weeks, work with your employer to plan to work from home unless it is necessary for you to be in the workplace. We ask employers to make accommodation for this. Our goal is to reduce transmission as we head into the holidays so businesses and schools can remain open.
Participate in Essential Activities Only
For the next three weeks, stay home as much as possible, leaving only for necessary and essential activities, such as work that must be performed outside the home, COVID-19 testing, visiting the pharmacy, and buying groceries.
Limit Travel and Gatherings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health experts tell us that gatherings and travel in and out of communities present a high risk of spreading the infection. In our current situation, with a rising prevalence of the virus, attending even small gatherings that mix households, or traveling to areas that are experiencing high rates of positivity, is not advised and is potentially dangerous. Please, travel only if necessary.
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