ILLINOIS REPORTS 1,402 NEW VIRUS CASES, 14 MORE DEATHS

State health officials on Sunday announced 1,402 new coronavirus cases and 14 additional deaths.

The new infections account for roughly 2.9% of the 48,011 tests results reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health in the latest 24-hour period. That keeps the state’s seven-day positivity rate — the number experts use to gauge how rapidly the virus is spreading — at 3.5%, the lowest it’s been since July 24.

While the state’s daily caseload average has continued to rise over the last three months, positivity rates have sunk across most of Illinois, thanks to a statewide increase in testing capacity. Illinois has processed more than 1 million tests this month.

More than 5 million tests have been administered in Illinois since March, with 247,258 coming back positive.

Though almost 2,000 new cases have been added per day this month, comparable to the peak month of May, positivity rates have sunk across most of the state thanks to booming testing numbers. Chicago is at 5% positivity; its surrounding regions check in at 5.7% or below.

Of the 14 coronavirus-related deaths announced Sunday, five were recorded in Cook County.

In total, 8,540 Illinoisans have succumbed to the respiratory virus since March — about 3.1% of all Illinois coronavirus cases.

The recovery rate for Illinois coronavirus patients is 96%. Most people who contract it show mild or no symptoms.

Meanwhile, overall hospitalizations in Illinois dropped by about 3.5% over the last day, though the number of coronavirus patients in intensive care units and on ventilators increased slightly.

As of Saturday night, 1,417 coronavirus patients were hospitalized in Illinois, with 357 of those patients in intensive care units and 151 on ventilators, which is still well below the state’s capacity, officials said.