Numbers released by the Illinois Department of Public Health show the COVID-19 infection rate in Illinois is improving for the first time in weeks.
The department on Tuesday reported 2,587 new coronavirus cases from among 62,406 tests administered for a positivity rate of 3.8%. It is the first time the positivity rate has fallen below 4% since April 6.
Hospitals across Illinois are still feeling the effects of the uptick of COVID-19 cases. Victims of the virus took up 2,288 beds statewide Monday night, the highest number of admissions since the first week of February.
The nine deaths reported Tuesday brings the number of Illinoisans killed by COVID-19 to 21,694. Two of the deaths reported Tuesday were in the Metro-East and none in South Central Illinois.
More than 1.3 million residents have tested positive.
The Marion County Health Department did not release new county numbers on Tuesday.
The Clinton County Health Department is reporting two new cases on Tuesday. There are currently 16 on home isolation and two who are hospitalized.
In Jefferson County, two new cases were reported with ten current in isolation.
The Fayette County Health Department is reporting 17 new cases during the past week ending on Monday.
