Illinois reports 33 more COVID-19 deaths as total cases surpass 30K

Illinois officials announced another 33 deaths and 1,197 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday. The state has seen 30,357 cases and 1,292 deaths since the pandemic first hit.

Illinois health officials announced another 33 deaths and 1,197 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 30,357.

In total, 1,292 people have died of the coronavirus in Illinois since the pandemic first hit. The virus has now been reported in 93 of the state’s 102 counties.

Illinois also ran at least 5,914 COVID-19 tests on Saturday, officials said. In all, more than 142,000 have been tested for the virus.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker also announced that an airlift of PPE is scheduled to arrive in Illinois on Monday.

The protective equipment will be taken to state warehouses, where they’ll be inspected before being shipped out to first responders and health care professionals, Pritzker said.

“That’s the landscape we’re operating in,” Pritzker said. “Competing with other states, countries and even the federal government for supplies.”

A day earlier, Illinois recorded its highest number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 in a single day, matching Thursday with 125 fatalities.

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, head of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said she has “guarded, cautious optimism” the state is bending the curve and continues to avoid overloading its health care system. But she warned Illinois has not yet hit its peak.

“We still must stand together and employ the ongoing sacrifices to end this pandemic,” she said. “Let’s continue to be all in, Illinois.”