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COVID-19 cases at record high; deaths in Jefferson and Washington County

By News Oct 24, 2020 | 11:12 PM

The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting the highest daily number of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began on Saturday and a near-daily record for deaths.

The deaths included two males in their 90s in Jefferson County and a male in his 70s in Washington County.   The report also includes two deaths in Marion County that were reported locally on Friday.

The Department reports 6,161 new confirmed cases along with 63 additional deaths.  The number of deaths is the highest since June when they previously peaked at 64 for a single day.

The results of more than 83,000 test results were included in the Saturday report from the state.  The big number of positives caused the state’s positivity rate for the past seven days jumped over six-percent for the first time in four months and is now at 6.1-percent.

The positive rate in the Southern Illinois Region has fallen to 8.3-percent.  The Marion County rate dropped a tenth of a percent to 6.1-percent.   The Metro-East seven-day positivity rate has remained above 8-percent for the second day in a row and is now at 8.2-percent. The East Central Illinois rate remains at 7.3-percent.

As of Friday night, the state is now reporting 2,616 hospitalized as a result of COVID-19.   Of that number, 560 are in ICU, and 222 are on ventilators.

Illinois officials have warned in recent days that the state is experiencing a second surge and pleaded with people to wear face coverings and take other precautions.