72 more Illinois coronavirus deaths

Illinois remained on its apparent descent from the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic Tuesday, though health officials announced an additional 72 people died of the disease across the state.

With the three-month death toll at 6,398, the Illinois Department of Public Health said an additional 623 people tested positive for the coronavirus among the latest batch of almost 19,000 test results.

That marks 11 straight days with daily caseloads below 1,000, and follows the 473 cases announced Monday, which was the lowest number reported since March 30.

The latest figures push the death toll this month above 1,000, but the 1,022 deaths over the first 16 days of June average out to just under 64 a day — significantly lower than May’s grim daily average of just under 100.

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The state topped out at 4,014 new cases announced on a single day May 12, followed by a record-high 192 coronavirus deaths the next day.

A total of 133,639 people in Illinois have tested positive for the virus overall. An additional 181 deaths and 861 infections were considered “probable” coronavirus cases, officials said.

The health department also said 26 inmates have tested positive so far in an outbreak at the East Moline Correctional Center. Three staffers have also contracted the virus, with one already recovered.

“All the confirmed cases have been traced to the same dorm-style living unit,” health officials said in a statement. “The Illinois Department of Corrections’ medical task force is utilizing point prevalence surveillance to help control any further spread of infection.”

The statewide rolling positivity rate for testing over the last week is 3%. All four regions of the state are on pace to advance to the next stage of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan June 26, though Chicago officials have said the city will likely advance July 1.