Illinois sees drop in COVID-19 cases, deaths

It was the lowest number of daily cases since March 22, and the lowest death tally since late April. Illinois also reported 70,426 vaccine doses administered statewide, raising the total number of vaccinations to 9,978,915.

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A first dose of the Pfizer vaccine against the coronavirus is administered in January at Richard J. Daley College.

The state on Monday reported a drop in both new coronavirus cases as well as deaths from COVID-19.

Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times file

State health officials on Monday reported the fewest number of new daily coronavirus cases Illinois has seen in nearly 50 days, as well as the lowest daily death tally recorded in two weeks.

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 1,424 new coronavirus cases, the lowest since 1,220 recorded daily cases on March 22. And the 12 deaths reported is the lowest since 10 recorded deaths on April 26.

The numbers raise the state’s total documented cases to 1,356,391 and increases the death toll to 22,235.

Monday’s cases were found in 41,133 tests reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health within the past 24 hours. For three consecutive days, the state’s seven-day positivity rate has been below 3%. Monday’s rate was 2.8%.

As of Sunday night, 1,906 people in Illinois were in the hospital for COVID-19, with 472 patients in the ICU and 242 patients on ventilators.

The state also reported 70,426 vaccine doses were administered in Illinois raising the total number of vaccinations to 9,978,915.

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