CHICAGO (AP) — State officials say another 61 Illinois residents have died from COVID-19, boosting the state’s death toll during the coronavirus pandemic to more than 5,300. The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Saturday that the state now has recorded 5,330 deaths from the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. As the state has…… Read more »
As Illinois begins phase three of the recovery from the coronavirus, Governor JB Pritzker is reminding the public that the virus is still out there and dangerous. Stores are open, you can sit outside and have a beer and finally get a haircut. Governor Pritzker praises all who have done the right thing to get…… Read more »
The State Department of Public Health is requiring long term care facilities in Illinois to do more COVID-19 testing. About 44% of Illinois coronavirus patients who have died were living in long term care facilities. That’s why Governor JB Pritzker says it’s so important to improve testing. “Many facilities have been great partners, and they…… Read more »
Governor Pritzker provides his daily update on the Coronavirus on Thursday in Chicago. It’s official…Phase Three begins in Illinois today. Get your nails done, get a haircut, eat outside at a restaurant, and hit the gym for outdoor classes in Phase Three. All retail stores can also reopen. Salem City Manager Rex Barbee has announced…… Read more »
Marion County Health Department Administrator Melissa Mallow says for the 8th day in a row they have no new positive cases of COVID-19 to report. The county remains at 51 positive cases. 49 of those have recovered. Mallow reports only one remains hospitalized, but the person is now off a ventilator and appears to be…… Read more »
Salem Township Hospital President Kendra Taylor says the hospital is rebounding from a shutdown of all but emergency services for nearly two months beginning in mid-March. The hospital board was told Wednesday afternoon the shutdown to prepare for COVID-19 patients that never came was costly. Hospital revenue in April was down 60-percent from budget and…… Read more »
Governor JB Pritzker says the ban on evictions in Illinois will be extended. As the state prepares to move to the next stage of reopening, the Governor says the moratorium on throwing tenants out who haven’t paid will go on a little longer. “We want to make sure we are protecting renters who honestly it’s…… Read more »
Governor Pritzker held his briefing on the coronavirus in East St. Louis on Wednesday. COVID-19 deaths in Illinois now exceed 5,000. The state has had over 114,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, although many patients have recovered. Governor JB Pritzker says there were more than 1,100 new cases in the past day. “I’m also saddened…… Read more »
Governor JB Pritzker says all of Illinois should be moving to phase three of his reopening plan on Friday. Hospitalizations are down and the statewide positivity rate is around now 9%, down from a high of 23% in late April. The Governor credits public health measures. “Take note that along with social distancing, face coverings…… Read more »
Starting Friday, campgrounds and some additional facilities will be opening at state parks around Illinois, including Forbes State Park near Omega. Illinois Department of Natural Resources spokesman Tim Schweitzer explains what you will find open and closed. “Shelters, playgrounds, visitor centers will remain closed until further notice. If there are concession operations at those sites,…… Read more »