Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker reported 73 new coronavirus-related deaths, the largest single-day increase, along with 1,287 new cases throughout the state on Tuesday.
“In the last 24 hours, we have had 73 fatalities in the battle against COVID-19, our largest single-day increase to date. My grief is only fueling my efforts to fight this virus — and win,” Pritzker said at his daily press conference on Tuesday.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) said the state’s COVID-19 total has reached 13,549 cases and 380 deaths. The number of people tested so far is at 68,732, data shows.
IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike said that a second survey was sent out to patients who tested positive for coronavirus in Illinois. Among the respondents, 43% of the cases said they have recovered.
Ezike added that 80% of COVID-19 deaths occurred in those 60 years or older. The number of coronavirus patients in the hospital is at 3,680, Pritzker said.
Pritzker offered his gratitude to California, which sent Illinois 100 ventilators overnight. “It is truly incredible to work with elected officials across the nation who are providing true leadership.”
On Monday, Pritzker said that Illinois had received 367,700 N95 masks, 1,141,000 surgical masks, nearly 693,000 gloves, 174,000 face shields, 142,000 surgical gowns and 4,000 coveralls from the Strategic National Stockpile.
Pritzker said that is a “small fraction” of what is needed.
“If we had allowed upon the White House, our state, and nearly every state in the United States, would come up short and could not protect our health care workers and first responders. But here’s the good news, we haven’t trusted what we were told by the White House,” Pritzker said at his Monday press conference.
“We continue to source and ship as much PPE as we can from all over the world, bringing it to Illinois through whatever means necessary,” Pritzker said.
The state has ordered nearly 10 million N95 masks, over 14 million KN95 masks, 7 million surgical masks, over 19 million gloves, over 5 million face shields, over 3 million gowns and more.
“We have now lost hundreds of Illinoisans in the fight against COVID-19. Thousands of family members, loved ones, friends and neighbors are grieving,” Pritzker said.
Illinois’ stay-at-home order remains in effect through April 30.