Illinois Announces rising New Cases of COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease

We will update this page as the new cases of coronavirus are reported. The number of new cases of coronavirus COVID-19 jumps from 168 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday March 21 to 296 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday March 22. New cases reported every day, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). As of Saturday the, IDPH is reporting 753 cases in 26 counties in Illinois (percentage of case by county below). Cases have occurred in ages 3 to 99.

UPDATED at 3 PM Sunday: 296 new cases reported

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 296 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including an infant. IDPH also announced three deaths. The deaths included a Cook County man in his 80s, a Chicago man in his 80s, and a McLean County woman in her 70s. Jo Daviess, Livingston, Rock Island, and Stephenson counties are now also reporting cases. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,049 cases in 30 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to 99 years.

Health officials are still learning about this new virus and information and guidance is rapidly evolving. At this time, it is still unknown if a pregnant woman with COVID-19 can pass the virus to her fetus or baby during pregnancy or delivery. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, no infants born to mothers with COVID-19 have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. In these cases, which are a small number, the virus was not found in samples of amniotic fluid or breastmilk.

UPDATED AT 8 PM Saturday: 168 new cases reported

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 168 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including another death; a Cook County man in his 70s. DeKalb County is now also reporting a case. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 753 cases in 26 counties in Illinois (percentage of case by county below). Cases have occurred in ages 3 to 99.

The vast majority of the Coronavirus COVID-19 cases are in Cook County, followed by cases in DuPage County, Lake County and Will County.

COVID-19 Illinois Positive Cases. Darker colors designate counties with the largest numbers. For more info visit https://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus

Here is the complete list of known cases in Illinois county as of Sunday March 22, 2020.

- Adams < 1%
- Champaign < 1%
- Christian < 1%
- Clinton < 1%
- Cook 73%
- Cumberland < 1%
- DeKalb < 1%
- DuPage 9%
- Jackson < 1%
- Kane 1%
- Kankakee < 1%
- Kendall < 1%
- Lake 8%
- LaSalle < 1%
- Madison < 1%
- McHenry 1%
- McLean 1%
- Peoria < 1%
- Sangamon 1%
- St. Clair < 1%
- Washington ? 1%
- Whiteside < 1%
- Will 2%
- Williamson < 1%
- Winnebago 1%
- Woodford < 1%
- Unknown jurisdiction (at this time) < 1%

Governor JB Pritzker issued a “Stay at Home” order on Friday March 20, 2020 which is less restrictive than. a “Shelter in Place” order or a complete “Lock-down.” Individuals working in Essential Services are allowed to continue working but others in less essential services should remain in their homes. Despite that order, though, the public has been told they can go to the grocery store, doctor’s and dentist offices for emergencies, and can also go outside, subject to an earlier order restricting meetings or gatherings to under 10 people with each person more than six feet apart, called “Social Distancing.”

During this unprecedented public health emergency, stocks of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health care providers are being used rapidly. To aggressively address COVID-19, the availability of critical resources such as gloves, gowns, eye protection, and N-95 or surgical masks is essential.

To maximize the state’s availability of PPE, IDPH released guidance to limit non-essential adult elective surgery and medical and surgical procedures, including all dental procedures, until further notice. IDPH is now encouraging surgery centers, veterinarians, and anyone with unused PPE that is not immediately needed to donate it to assist health care providers, health care facilities, and first responders who are on the front line actively responding to COVID-19.

For donations, email [email protected]. For general questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email [email protected].

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

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