By Jim Hagerty
Reporter

CHICAGO – There are now 10,357 people in Illinois who have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, officials announced Saturday.

“The number is sobering and a reminder that we must all do our part,” Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said.

The state’s COVID-19 death toll is now 243.

Greater Chicago continues to be a coronavirus hotspot as 23 deaths of the 33 deaths reported Saturday occurred in Cook County. They were a man in his 20s, a man in his 30s, a woman in her 40s, two men in their 40s, a man in his 50s, a woman in her 60s, a man in his 60s, three women in their 70s, six men in their 70s, two women in their 80s, two men in their 80s, a woman in her 90s and a man in his 90s.

In DuPage County, a man in his 70s has died, along with a woman in her 100s. Jackson County reported one death–a woman in her 90s–while a woman in her 60s, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 70s died in Kane County.

A woman in her 80s died in Lake County. A man in his 50s and a woman in her 60s died in Will County.

Clusters of COVID-19 are being found in nursing homes, extended-care facilities and prisons, Ezike said.

Jasper, Lee, Mason, and Pike counties are now reporting cases. The disease is now in 68 Illinois counties.

Experts say that about 80% of COVID-19 cases are considered mild and can be resolved at home in one to two weeks. For the elderly and those with other medical issues, the virus can be critical. The mortality rate is about 2-5%, a figure based on the number of positive tests.

For all personal protective equipment (PPE) donations, email PPE.donations@illinois.gov.  For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.