Coronavirus cases in Illinois reached 96,485,, including 4,234 deaths. Illinois health officials announced 59 additional deaths and 2,294 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday.
CHICAGO (WLS) — Illinois remains on track to enter Phase 3 of the reopening plan in just over a week, but Gov. JB Pritzker took heat Monday for authorizing the use of a misdemeanor citation for business owners who open early. Illinois health officials announced 59 additional deaths and 2,294 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. That brings the statewide total to 96,485, including 4,234 deaths. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 21,297 specimens for a total of 603,241. As of Monday, the statewide test positivity rate is 14%. Gov. JB Pritzker laid out details Monday of a new contract tracing system to be launched with local health departments in the next few weeks. Improving contact tracing, which helps identify and locate anyone who’s been in contact with a COVID-positive patient, is a step the governor has said is crucial to reopening the state.“The first contact will be through a technological platform, such as text message or an email, which we hope most individuals will respond to,“ Dr. Wayne Duffus said. „And if this is ineffective at least three phone calls will be made, and only as a last resort. Will there be in-person visits.“The state is launching pilot programs in Lake and St. Clair counties. Currently, only 29% of known cases are engaged in a tracing process. The goal is for that figure to be above 60%. Officials say that contact tracing program will be community based with hiring and other aspects of the program run by local health departments under state guidance. Following a weekend of protests, in Chicago and Springfield, the governor accused some of spreading hate and fear. Things got personal when he spoke about some of the hate-filled messages that have directed at him.“I have to admit that I am worried about my family’s safety. You saw some of the signs, you saw the vehemence that people were carrying those signs with swastikas and pictures of Adolph Hitler, references to me and my family,“ Pritzker said. Amid continued defiance from some business owners, the governor authorized a new enforcement tool Friday allowing violators who open too early to be charged with a class A misdemeanor, punishable by fines of up to $2,500. The governor said he was unaware of any businesses being cited over the weekend with misdemeanor citations for reopening in areas like downstate Madison County, which announced last week it would not be following the governor’s reopening plan.
