Illinois adding beds in closed hospitals, McCormick Place as coronavirus cases reach 7,695
COVID-19 Pandemic
by: WGN Web Desk, Ben Bradley, Mike Ewing
Posted: Apr 2, 2020 / 02:51 PM CDT / Updated: Apr 3, 2020 / 04:41 AM CDT
CHICAGO — Illinois is rushing to build hospital beds and launched a campaign to get residents to follow social distancing guidelines as the number of coronavirus cases in the state passed 7,500 Thursday.
According to statistics released by the Illinois Department of Public Health Thursday, 715 new cases of COVID-19 and 16 additional deaths have been confirmed across the state. That brings the total to 7,695 cases, including 157 deaths, in 61 counties in Illinois.
IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said 85 percent of deaths are among individuals 60 years of age and older, but noted "no one is immune" to the virus. However, Ezike said 50 percent of people in Illinois with a confirmed cases recover within seven days, including a couple in their 70s.
"We do need people to have that hope, and know that it's not a death sentence," Ezike said.
Governor JB Pritzker began his remarks Thursday by saying he's done almost all he can to prevent the spread of the virus in Illinois, and criticizing the pace of federal actions and national stay-at-home guidelines.
"This will go down in history as a profound failure of our national government," Pritzker said.more
https://wgntv.com/news/coronavirus/715-new-cases-of-covid-19-in-illinois-16-additional-deaths/
