Illinois Coronavirus Update May 11: 79,007 Cases, 3,459 Deaths

SPRINGFIELD, IL — State officials on Monday announced 1,266 new cases of the coronavirus and 54 additional deaths, bringing to statewide total to 79,007 confirmed cases and 3,459 known deaths.

The latest deaths include:

• Boone County: 1 male 60s
• Coles County: 1 female 90s
• Cook County: 1 female 50s, 3 males 50s, 6 females 60s, 4 males 60s, 5 females 70s, 4 males 70s, 2 unknowns 70s, 8 females 80s, 7 males 80s, 1 unknown 80s, 5 females 90s, 1 female 100+
• DuPage County: 1 female 90s
• Kane County: 1 female 90s
• McHenry County: 1 male 90s
• St. Clair County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 70s

Ninety-eight of 102 Illinois counties now report cases, and deaths range from people younger than one year old to older than 100, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

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Health officials say they are monitoring cases at state veterans' homes, including one in Manteno where 30 residents and 10 staff have tested positive.

"The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs is following guidance from state and local health officials, which includes continuing health screenings, maintaining social distancing practices, wearing face masks, using gloves and gowns when indicated, and intensified cleaning," officials said.

Within the past 24 hours, labs in Illinois have processed 12,441 coronavirus tests, for a total of 442,425 since the pandemic began. The state now routinely meets its original goal of 10,000 tests per day, but Harvard economists say about 19,000 tests per day are necessary to accurately gauge the number of infections in the state, a prerequisite to reopening safely.

The United States now has more than 1.3 million confirmed coronavirus infections, according to Johns Hopkins University, and at least 79,894 Americans have died from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. Globally, more than 4.1 million people have been infected and 283,387 are known to have died.

Officials say a state helpline has been set up to provide emotional support and quick answers to questions about the coronavirus pandemic. Illinoisans can test "TALK" to 55-2020 (or "HABLAR" for Spanish), and within 24 hours they will receive a call from a counselor. Residents can also text keywords like "UNEMPLOYMENT," "FOOD," or "SHELTER," to the same number to receive additional information about those topics.

Here's what's happening with the coronavirus in Illinois:

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Coronavirus by the numbers:

Illinois:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 79,007
• Deaths: 3,459
• People tested: 442,425
• Recovered: No data available

Nationwide:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 1,340,643
• Deaths: 79,935
• People tested: 8,987,524
• Recovered: 216,169

Global:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 4,152,670
• Deaths: 284,536
• People tested: No data available
• Recovered: 1,432,542

Sources: Johns Hopkins University and IDPH

Tips from the CDC on dealing with coronavirus:

While the best way to prevent illness is to avoid virus exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention generally recommends taking these actions to prevent the spread of viruses:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

What to do if you're sick:

Call head if you're planning to visit your doctor:

• If you have a medical appointment, call the health care provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the health care provider's office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.

Stay home unless you must see a doctor:

• Stay home: People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness. You should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care.
• Avoid public areas: Do not go to work, school, or public areas.
• Avoid public transportation: Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing or taxis.

Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home:

• Stay away from others: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.
• Limit contact with pets and animals: You should restrict contact with pets and other animals while you are sick with COVID-19, just as you would around other people. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus.
• When possible, have another member of your household care for your animals while you are sick. If you are sick with COVID-19, avoid contact with your pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked and sharing food. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a face mask. See COVID-19 and Animals for more information.

Avoid sharing personal household items:

• Do not share: You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home.
• Wash thoroughly after use: After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.

Masks:

• CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.
• Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
• The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.
• Face mask instructions - sew- and no-sew masks

To donate personal protective equipment (PPE), email PPE.donations@illinois.gov. For health questions about COVID-19, call the state coronavirus hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.