Illinois records 1,893 new coronavirus cases, 6 more deaths

Illinois surpassed 220,000 coronavirus cases Sunday as health officials announced 1,893 new COVID-19 infections.

Since March, Illinois has recorded a total of 220,178 coronavirus cases. Only five other states — California, Texas, Georgia, Florida and New York — have registered more cases than Illinois, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Illinois has seen an increase in coronavirus cases over the last month. Sunday marked the 33rd consecutive day Illinois has recorded a four-digit daily caseload. On Saturday, the state saw its largest caseload in three months, recording 2,356 new COVID-19 infections.

Illinois is averaging about 1,797 new infections each day this month, up sharply from July’s daily average of 1,150.

The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity rate from Aug. 17 through Aug. 23 is 4.2% — a slight uptick from a week ago when the positivity rate stood at 4.1%.

The vast majority of COVID-19 patients — about 95% — have recovered, officials said.

Health officials on Sunday also announced six additional coronavirus-related deaths. Five of those fatalities were recorded in Cook County. In total, 7,880 Illinoisans have succumbed to the respiratory virus since March. That means about 3.6% of Illinois coronavirus cases result in death.

Hospitalizations dipped slightly from Friday. As of Saturday night, 1,449 coronavirus patients were hospitalized in Illinois, officials said. Of those patients, 339 were in intensive care units and 117 on ventilators. Those numbers are well below the state’s capacity.