Health officials announced Illinois’ latest 86 coronavirus deaths on Friday as thousands of businesses across the state geared up for the next phase of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan.
With the COVID-19 death toll raised to 5,270, the Illinois Department of Public Health also announced an additional 1,622 people have tested positive for the virus out of 21,796 tests administered a day earlier.
At least one of those new patients was reported in downstate Edgar County, which had been one of the final two counties that hadn’t tallied any COVID-19 cases over four months since Illinois’ first case was confirmed.
That leaves Scott County, about 55 miles west of Springfield, as the only county on the state map without any reported coronavirus cases. A total of 117,455 people have tested positive for the virus across Illinois’ other 101 counties.
Almost half the cases have stemmed from long-term care facilities, and the vast majority of patients have already recovered, state Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said Thursday. But more than half the deaths have occurred in May.
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With all four regions of the state hitting hospitalization and testing targets, thousands of restaurants, stores, barbershops and more were given the green light by Pritkzer’s office to open their doors for the first time in over two months under Phase 3 of the governor’s “Restore Illinois” plan. That’s welcome news for a state economy with a record unemployment rate over 16%.
But it’s not the case yet in Chicago, which Mayor Lori Lightfoot has said will instead advance to the next reopening stage on Wednesday. She unveiled a plan to close six commercial strips to allow more space for outdoor dining, throwing a lifeline to the decimated restaurant industry.
Pritzker has said the earliest the state could advance to the fourth phase of reopening is June 26. That would allow for gatherings of up to 50 people, with social distancing and face masks still the norm.
