CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Illinois on Thursday reported its largest daily jump in the number of COVID-19-related deaths and statewide surpassed 25,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said 125 people died over the past 24 hours of coronavirus-related complications, taking the statewide fatality number to 1,072.
The number of new coronavirus cases grew by 1,140 -- taking the total number of Illinois cases to 25,733.
Even with the grim numbers, officials have said Illinois residents have helped "bend" the curve of new infections by observing Gov. Pritzker's stay-at-home order, which runs through April 30. Hospitals have not been overwhelmed, at least compared to hotspots like New York.
"This is a marathon. We have to keep pace," IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike said at the Pritzker Administration's daily media briefing.
Pritzker said he's still considering whether to extend the Illinois stay-at-home order, but that decision may not come for several days as he continues to look at data and talk with experts. Wisconsin's governor has extended that state's stay-at-home order until May 26.
Pritzker said driving his decision for Illinois will be the state's capacity to test people for the novel coronavirus; its ability to trace people who come in contact with the infected; and how effectively hospitals can handle seriously ill patients.
