Elmhurst Hospital Sees First Big Drop In Virus Cases

ELMHURST, IL — As the state plans to further reopen its economy later this week, Elmhurst Hospital is seeing its first big drop in coronavirus cases. As of Tuesday, the hospital was treating 48 patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, the hospital's spokesman reported. That's down from 58 a week before. The number had been hovering around 60 for more than six weeks.

In the last week, the hospital reported one more death as the result of the coronavirus. That brings the total so far to 48. This was the lowest rate of increase in deaths for more than six weeks.

Since March 24, 310 patients have been discharged from Elmhurst Hospital after treatment of confirmed cases, according to the hospital. Elmhurst Hospital's patient base covers an area far greater than Elmhurst itself.

As of Sunday, Elmhurst's number of coronavirus cases edged up 12 percent to 217, up from 193 a week earlier, according to figures from the DuPage County Department of Public Health. The previous week's rate was 19 percent.

Elmhurst compares relatively well to nearby towns with its rate of coronavirus cases. As of Sunday, Elmhurst had 4.6 cases per thousand people. The rates are 2.9 in Western Springs, 4.5 in Clarendon Hills, 4.9 in Darien, 5.3 in La Grange Park, 6.5 in Burr Ridge, 7.7 in DuPage County, 10 in Hinsdale and 10.5 in La Grange.

In DuPage County, Addison was leading the pack with 667 cases, or 18.3 per thousand, as of Sunday, according to the health department. West Chicago follows with 652 cases, or 24.3 per thousand.

Read more:

Illinois Coronavirus Update May 26: 112,017 Cases, 4,884 Deaths

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