CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Illinois Department of Public Health on Friday reported 5,742 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 -- the lowest daily caseload since Oct. 27 when 4,000 cases were reported. An additional 156 virus-related deaths were reported.
Two men in their 40s were among the 67 individuals from Cook County who most recently succumbed to the coronavirus.
Since the pandemic's start, Illinois has a total of 930,849 cases, including 15,799 deaths, according to the IDPH.
Over the past 24 hours, 98,958 tests were performed for a total 12,881,938. As of Sunday night, 4,352 people were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 928 patients were in the intensive care unit and 538 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from Dec. 18 through Dec. 24 is 7.1%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from Dec. 18 through Dec. 24 is 8.6%.
Earlier this week, Moderna shipped out its COVID-19 vaccine after the FDA authorized it for public use last Friday. In Illinois, including Chicago, 191,000 vaccine doses have been administered as of Tuesday night.





