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CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The number of new daily coronavirus cases in Illinois continues breaking above 1,000, as the state’s “positivity rate” remains around 3% — a half-point higher than just one week ago.
The numbers don’t signal a major backslide, but come as Illinois has moved fully into Phase 4 of reopening and amid reports people are not social distancing effectively in the freer circumstances. In Chicago, many new cases are young adults, suggesting this demographic is not taking the COVID-19 pandemic seriously enough.
The Illinois Department of Public Health on Friday reported 1,384 new cases of novel coronavirus, including 22 deaths. These metrics had dropped to comparatively favorable low levels just two weeks ago. On July 6, the state reported 614 new coronavirus cases and 6 deaths -- the lowest daily level of fatalities since late March.
The Illinois positivity rate -- reflecting the number of tests that come back positive -- had been hovering at 2.5% and 2.6%.
To date, 7,272 people in Illinois have died from coronavirus-related complications, and there have been 159,334 confirmed cases. Many people who have tested positive have since recovered. Some people exhibit no symptoms, but the virus can be potentially deadly to others.
The state has broken down into 11 regions to monitor COVID-19 resurgences. Chicago and suburban Cook County are their own regions.