Illinois reported 6,363 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the highest one-day increase since the beginning of the pandemic.
Faced with rising cases and hospitalizations, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday that tighter virus-related restrictions will go into place on Sunday in Region 3, which includes Springfield and Quincy. And in St. Louis, acting Health Director Fredrick Echols said the recent surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases across the metro area may spur the city to tighten its restrictions, as well.
Illinois has seen a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases over the course of October.
“Statewide, we have a real problem on our hands, and people’s lives hang in the balance,†Pritzker said in a news conference. “We are seeing substantially more confirmed cases right now than we ever saw in the spring. Since the beginning of October alone, new cases are up more than 150%.â€
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The Illinois Department of Public Health also reported 3,030 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, the highest number since June 3.
Heightened restrictions went into place Wednesday in the Metro East, after the area saw an average positivity rate above 8% for three consecutive days. The region’s average positivity rate on Thursday was 8.5%.
Jennifer Duffey, whose mother died from COVID-19 on Sept. 23, describes the situation, and asks people to wear a mask. "We weren't able to be with her. She fought for days in the ICU," Duffey said.
Missouri cases still high
Missouri reported 3,061 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total to 177,693. The state has reported more than 3,000 cases on just two other days during the pandemic.
Hospitalizations have risen in the late summer and fall, from a seven-day average of 913 patients on Sept. 1, to 1,156 patients on Oct. 1.
The seven-day average was 1,479, as of Monday. There were also 29 more deaths reported, bringing the total to 2,899.
Echols, who leads the City of St. Louis Department of Health, spoke Thursday to an aldermanic committee about the possibility of new restrictions. But he refused to say exactly what changes in the city’s current emergency order are being considered and when they might be imposed.
“Right now it’s on our radar because of the trajectory of not only what’s happening in the city but in surrounding areas,†Echols told the Health and Human Services Committee.
“So we are considering adding some additional mitigation measures but nothing in the immediate future. Nothing will likely change today.â€
Committee chairwoman Cara Spencer, who repeatedly tried without success to get Echols to elaborate, expressed concern at the lack of details being made public.
Releasing such information could help businesses and residents to prepare, said Spencer, who is running against Echols’ boss, Mayor Lyda Krewson, in the Democratic mayoral primary next March.
Echols said efforts are underway through schools to try to get college-age people to limit social gatherings. He said the highest percentage of people being diagnosed are in the 20 to 39 age group.
On Wednesday, the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force reported 72 new COVID-19 patients were admitted to the area’s four major hospital systems, the highest number since tracking began in early April.
The number of new admissions dropped to 52 in a report issued Thursday, but that still was higher than on many days in recent months.
These maps and charts show the spread of COVID-19 in Missouri and Illinois.
