SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Coronavirus cases shot up again Tuesday to 12,542, the highest in 11 days, and there were 125 deaths, Illinois public health officials reported.
After a short-lived downturn which saw new cases fall as low as 6,190 on Monday, the uptick came even before officials predict a new wave of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, induced by a busy Thanksgiving week of cross-state travel and family gatherings.
Deaths haven’t slowed in relative comparison, however, although the 125 recorded Tuesday accounted for just the second time in five days fatalities topped 100.
Overall, COVID-19 has affected 738,846 and has lead to the deaths of 12,403.
The number of tests for the virus increased too, to 116,081 in 24 hours after a slowdown associated with the holiday.
The number of hospitalizations has dipped, however slightly, in recent days. There were 5,835 in hospital beds Tuesday, with 1,195 in intensive care. The most seriously ill — those needing ventilators to assist breathing — has remained steady however, at 721
