(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Here are latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak in Illinois on Monday, May 11, 2020:
- Gov. J.B. Pritzker defended his stay-at-home order and incremental plans to reopen, saying Sunday that Illinois residents have to change the way things are done until COVID-19 is "eradicated." The Democrat's comments on CNN's "State of the Union" came as he faced a southern Illinois salon owner's lawsuit, criticism from some Republicans who deem his plans an overreach and a Chicago Tribune editorial accusing him of being "cautious to the extreme." Pritzker dismissed the criticism Sunday. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- NEW NUMBERS: The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,656 new cases and 57 deaths. That takes the state's overall known total to 77,741 cases, including 3,406 deaths. READ MORE HERE.
- A Cook County Jail correctional officer died Sunday of apparent complications of COVID-19. Antoine Jones, 51, worked for the Cook County sheriff's office since July 2002, according to a statement from the sheriff's office. He lived on the South Side and is survived by his wife and five adult children. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- The Mayor's office said never mind the expiration date, bottles of hand sanitizer being handed out by ward offices are still good. Mayor Lightfoot's administration said there's no need to worry about the effectiveness of hand sanitizer with expired dates that were given to city aldermen for distribution in their wards, because the products get checked regularly to make sure they still work. DETAILS HERE.
- A member of Governor Pritzker's senior staff tested positive for coronavirus late last week, his office said Monday, prompting all of the Governor's Office employees to work from home for an appropriate isolation period. READ MORE HERE
- The Cook County medical examiner's office has confirmed 107 more deaths related to COVID-19. There are now 2,465 deaths in Cook County from the coronavirus. MORE DETAILS HERE.
- Three more drive-through coronavirus testing sites will be opened next week as Illinois continues efforts to get a handle on the number of infections across the state, Gov. JB Pritzker said Friday as the state reached a new daily benchmark in collecting test samples. The new locations, which have not been announced, join seven mobile facilities now in operation that collectively compile more than 3,000 tests daily. Illinois has a total of 244 public testing sites across the state, the governor said. DETAILS HERE.
- A mysterious illness that may be related to COVID-19 has started showing up in Illinois. The illness affecting children has been seen in Europe and New York. Now there are at least a half-dozen cases in Illinois. Though much is still unknown about the illness, symptoms include a rash, fever, red eyes, swelling in the hands and feet, vomitting, and abdominal pain. READ MORE HERE.
This is a rapidly evolving situation. Stay tuned to WBBM Newsradio where we will remain live, local, and committed to bringing you the latest information during this outbreak. >>LISTEN LIVE!
