CHICAGO – On Sunday, Illinois surpassed the 20,000 mark in total COVID-19 cases. The death toll now stands at 720 since the pandemic began. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Sunday’s death count of 43 is the lowest in six days. Sunday’s announcement showed 7,956 tests given, higher than what the state has been averaging. As more tests are available, it’s likely to see more cases. But Pritzker said the percentage testing positive has remained the same. – Sean Crawford, NPR Illinois
CHICAGO – Illinois residents who have COVID-19 symptoms or may have been exposed will be able to recover from their homes with the help of a new patient monitoring program announced Saturday. Those who are sick but don’t need to be in the hospital will have daily virtual visits with health workers. They will also receive wellness kits with alcohol wipes, thermometers, and blood pressure cuffs. More details on that program here. – Olivia Mitchell, NPR Illinois
DECATUR – Authorities in Macon County reported ten new confirmed cases of COVID-19 Sunday, all of them apparently linked to the Fair Havens Senior Living long-term care facility in Decatur. Macon County has now reported a total of 35 COVID-19 cases, 25 of which are associated with Fair Havens, including one death. Champaign County officials reported no new COVID-19 cases Sunday for the first time in nearly three weeks. Champaign County has confirmed 85 COVID-19 cases so far, including two deaths. Coles County reported two new cases Sunday, for a total of seven confirmed cases. Iroquois County reported one new case, for a total of nine. – Jim Meadows, Illinois Newsroom
MONMOUTH – Thirteen-year-old David Simmons of Monmouth saw the need for personal protective equipment and decided to put his 3D printing skills to good use. Simmons has been 3D printing objects with his brothers for the past couple years. Once he got the idea to print face shields for a county health department, he found a design online and got to work. “We delivered our first 8 masks to the Cass County Health Department and they are using them. And we are now printing about 8 a day,” he said. Simmons says it takes about three hours to print and assemble one face shield. He says as long as there’s a need, his goal is to continue printing them for the foreseeable future. – Daniel Musisi, WCBU
CARBONDALE – A man in his 70s became the third Jackson County resident to die of COVID-19, officials announced Sunday. Public Health Officials say two other women have also tested positive for COVID-19. One is in her 20s and the other is in her 50s. In Franklin and Williamson County, health officials there say two new positive cases in both counties. Officials say there have been a total of 11 laboratory confirmed positives in Williamson county and 5 laboratory confirmed positives in Franklin county. – Jacob Gordon, WSIU
ROCKFORD – Rockford alderman and community activist John Beck has died. The 57-year-old Republican represented the city’s 12th ward since 2001. He worked for the Rockford Park District as its Arts, Events, and Recreation Project Manager for the past 13 years. Beck also was known as a champion of accessibility and defender of the Americans With Disabilities Act. He served for 22 years as Development Director for RAMP, a Rockford-based organization offering services and advocacy for people with disabilities. He was a founding member of the Rockford Chariots wheelchair basketball association. – WNIJ
