Illinois COVID-19 Update

May 18, 2020

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 2,294 new COVID-19 cases and 59 deaths. The total number of cases in the state is 96,485 in 100 counties, with a total of 4,234 deaths. IDPH says that in the past 24 hours, 21,297 specimens have been processed. Statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations in the past 24 hours is 4,120 patients. Of that figure, 1,096 patients are in ICU with 636 patients on ventilators. The statewide seven-day rolling COVID-19 positivity rate is 14%.

The Governor continues to stress that expanding testing capabilities is a key part of his Restore Illinois plan to reopen the state. The state is scheduled to receive $474 million in funding with IDPH receiving $286 million and the Chicago Dept. of Public Health receiving $187.5 million by May 23 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The funding is to expand COVID-19 testing and surveillance activities under the Paycheck Protection Program and the Health Care Enhancement Act. A press release is available here.

IDPH will hold its weekly COVID-19 Situational Update webinar on Wed., May 20 from 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. More details and registration information are available here.

The IDPH Perinatal Advisory Committee (PAC) has released a statement on obstetric and neonatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking to ensure pregnant women and newborns continue to have access to safe and high quality care, even during the pandemic. The PAC requests hospitals and other providers caring for pregnant mothers and newborns follow COVID-19 practices related to prenatal, hospital and postnatal care consistent with standards developed by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The full statement, including additional resources, can be accessed here.