Evanston health officials reported eight new COVID-19 cases among city residents today. Statewide there were 2,862 new cases.
State officials today urged residents to limit the number of guests at holiday parties and minimizing travel to curb the spread of the disease. All 11 state regions have seen increasing coronavirus test positive rates during the past week.
The seven-day positive rate statewide now 4.6%, up from 3.5% a week ago.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported results of 52,669 tests today, down from Tuesday’s 55,993.
The IDPH reported tests of 439 Evanston residents today. It found five positive cases for a positive rate of 1.1%, compared to the seven-day average of 1.4%. A week ago, the seven-day rate for Evanston was 1.5%.
The state now says Evanston has had a total of 1,225 cases.
By the city’s count, Evanston has a total of 1,232 COVID-19 cases. The city’s death toll from the disease remained unchanged today at 73.
The latest seven-day average positive rate for some other communities:
- Chicago 4.4%.
- Suburban Cook County 5.2%
- Skokie 2.7%
- Wilmette 4.8%
Chicago reported 452 new cases today for a total of 86,092. Its coronavirus death toll increased by four today to 2,999.
Suburban Cook County reported 395 more cases today for a total of 71,481 and two more deaths for a total of 2,322.
Those who died in Cook County today included a man in his 60s, a man and a woman in their 70s and three men in their 90s.
The state now has 327,605 COVID-19 cases, and it reported 48 more deaths today for a total of 9,074.
As of last night, 1,974 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 390 patients were in the ICU and 153 of those were on ventilators.