SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — State officials announced 69 more deaths from COVID-19 Thursday among 3,328 fresh infections of the coronavirus illness.
The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic is nearing 20,000, with the total on Thursday reaching 19,444. Overall, there have been 1,137,559 cases.
The three categories of hospitalizations for the highly contagious and potentially deadly virus fell for the fifth straight day, with 2,341 inpatients, 513 in intensive care units and 265 needing breathing assistance from ventilators.
The state has now received 2.13 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Of that, 1.16 million shots have been administered; the number includes high-priority residents such as front-line health care workers and long-term care residents who have already received both of the required shots to prevent the disease.