CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health reported Thursday another 168 lives lost to coronavirus in the state, marking the second highest daily toll the state has seen since the start of the pandemic.
The highest was on May 13, when the state reported 191 deaths caused by COVID-19. The next highest death toll happened just days ago on Nov. 14 with 166 deaths.
IDPH also reported Thursday 14,612 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19. Those cases are among more than 113,000 test results submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health, causing the state’s testing positivity rate to near 12 percent.
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The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from Nov. 12 – Nov. 18 is 12 percent. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from Nov. 12 – Nov. 18 is 14 percent.
The Pritzker Administration has asked residents to stay at home as much as possible to avoid spread of the disease. Indoor bar service and dining has been suspended temporarily. Beginning Friday, the entire state will be under new restrictions that will limit the capacity within retail stores and supermarkets. Museums, theaters and casinos will be closed.
IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike said she fears that COVID-19 metrics will spike even more in the weeks following Thanksgiving, if families ignore advice and blend relatives from other households. She said that is not safe, even if people get coronavirus tests in advance and think they are negative for the virus. They can still pose a threat, she stressed.
As of Wednesday night, 6,037 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 1,192 patients were in the ICU and 587 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 621,383 cases, including 11,178 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years.