New cases of COVID-19 reported to the Evanston Health Department increased by nearly 138% this week as cases soared at local schools.
Friday’s one day total of 161 new cases was by far the highest for Evanston of any single day in the pandemic so far.
The seven-day average of daily cases rose to 64.6 Friday from from 27.1 a week ago.
In all, 452 new COVID cases were reported in the past seven days in Evanston — that’s the highest weekly total of the pandemic here.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office reported two more COVID-19 related deaths in Evanston this week, although one of those cases has not yet shown up in the city Health Department’s tally, which stands at 127.
A 93-year-old man who lived at 2638 Lawndale Ave. died on Sunday and a 65-year-old man who lived at 1830 Brummel St. died on Tuesday. Both also had other serious medical conditions.
Illinois reported a 19% increase in the seven-day average of daily cases to 8,474 Friday from 7,095 a week ago.
Evanston’s seven-day average of new cases per 100,000 people, at 82.82, is now higher than the rate of 65.94 for the state as a whole.
School District 65 reported 100 new cases this week compared to 36 the week before, along with a dramatic increase in the number of students quarantined because of exposure to the disease.
Evanston Township High School saw 129 new cases among students this week, compared to 21 the previous week.
Northwestern University reported 228 new cases this week as of Thursday, compared to 127 a week earlier.
The city says 99.7% of Evanston residents 65 and older are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, up from 99.5% last week, as are 82.8% of all residents five and older, up from 81.4% last week. Those numbers don’t reflect booster shots.
Here are charts with the latest data on the pandemic.