Rising Concerns: COVID-19 Update

Aug. 14, 2020

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced today 2,264 new COVID-19 cases (highest one-day total since May 24) and 25 deaths. The total number of cases in the state is 202,691 in 102 counties, with a total of 7,721 deaths. IDPH says that in the past 24 hours, 49,541 test specimens have been processed, with a positivity rate of 4.56%. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity rate from August 7 to August 13 is 4.1%. Statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations in the past 24 hours decreased from 1,628 patients to 1,612 patients. Of that figure, 345 patients were in the ICU, with 126 patients on ventilators.

IDPH says Region 4 (Metro East) is seeing increases in test positivity rates and could surpass the resurgence metrics in the coming days. If the region experiences three consecutive days of 8% test positivity (7-day rolling average), the state will implement mitigation measures. A list of mitigation options can be found on the coronavirus.illinois.gov website.

IDPH also announced that 14 counties are considered to be at a warning level for COVID-19: Bureau, Cass, Clinton, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Jefferson, Kane, LaSalle, Moultrie, Perry, Union and Will. A county enters a warning level when two or more COVID-19 risk indicators that measure the amount of COVID-19 increase.
 
Today’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) figures show more than 5.2 million confirmed and presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., with 166,317 deaths.

Today’s WHO Coronavirus Disease Dashboard shows more than 20.7 million COVID-19 cases globally, with more than 751,000 deaths. The Region of the Americas (includes the U.S.) continues to lead the world with more than 11.1 million cases and more than 402,000 deaths.