And it was a very good day across the board! Here are the numbers:
Date Cases % Increase N Cases N Tested Prevalence Deaths
4/14 23,247 5.5 1,222 4,848 1 in 4 868
4/15 24,593 5.7 1,346 6,313 1 in 4.7 948
4/16 25,733 4.8 1,180 5,660 1 in 4.8 1,072
4/17 27,575 7.1 1,842 7,574 1 in 4.1 1,134
4/18 29,160 5.7 1,585 7,241 1 in 4.5 1,259
4/19 30,357 4.1 1,197 5,914 1 in 5 1,290
4/20 31,508 3.8 1,151 5,040 1 in 4.4 1,349
4/21 33,059 4.7 1,551 6,639 1 in 4.3 1,468
4/22 35,108 6.1 2,049 9,350 1 in 4.6 1,565
4/23 36,934 5.2 1,826 8,969 1 in 4.9 1,688
4/24 39,658 7.3 2,724 16,315 1 in 6 1,795
4/25 41,777 5.3 2,119 11,985 1 in 5.6 1,874
4/26 43,903 5.0 2,126 12,975 1 in 6.1 1,933
4/27 45,833 4.4 1,930 13,096 1 in 6.75 1,983
Illinois has tested 227,628 citizens and we’re still in fourth place in the state rankings.
But the best news was our second-best testing day led to only our fifth best new case day because the prevalence retreated again, this time to almost 1 in 7. In case you’ve forgotten, that means it took seven tests to generate one positive result and those kinds of disconnects mean we’re getting closer to the curve downside.
With expanded testing becoming more consistent, the daily new case percentage increase came in at our second lowest 4.4 percent, and I’m convinced it will continue to drop.
Then, to put that bright red cherry on the top of the Black Forest cake, the number of COVID-19 occupied ICU beds and ventilators actually dropped, likely for the first time since this thing started:
Date ICU Beds %+ Ventilators %+
4/23 1,225 709
4/24 1,244 1.5 763 7.6
4/25 1,267 1.8 772 1.1
4/26 1,249 -1.4 763 -1.1
By the way, if you want to see all ICU and ventilator use in the state, simply scroll down to the bottom of this IDPH page. A thank you goes out to reader Tom for noting this.
And just when you thought yesterday’s numbers couldn’t possibly get any better, the mortality rate dropped for the second time in three days, this time, to 4.3 percent.
So, the good news is there’s no bad news!
But if I had to pick the most fascinating news, it would be that downstate State Rep Darren Bailey got a southern Illinois judge to issue a restraining order freeing him from his shelter-in-place shackles. For now, the ruling applies only to the state rep himself and I’m sure it will be swiftly subject to appeal, but when his disaster declaration expired on April 9, Pritzker had no authority to extend it.
Before you come at me for the 3,942nd time, please remember I’m a social liberal, but we all have to follow the “rules,” right? The Governor fully exceeded his authority and anytime an elected official is allowed to get away with that it doesn’t bode well for future good governance.
If Bailey’s challenge survives the appellate and Illinois supreme court levels, and I believe it will, this absurd and completely counterproductive stay at home order will become a thing of the past, as will Governor Pritzker will in 2022.
Stay safe!
Jeff, you have earned a new reader through all of this. I appreciate educated, and seemingly unbiased opinions based on fact. Not to mention a bit of humor along the way.
Dan, You are the kind of reader I live for! One whose mind changes when the evidence does!