4/25/20 - A Message from Secretary Hou: Press Conference Recap

Saturday, April 25, 2020


Good afternoon:


Please see the updates from the Governor's press conference yesterday.


COVID-19 Updates from the Governor's 04-21-2020 Press Conference

  • Testing Capacity: Governor Pritzker was pleased to announce the significant increase in testing capacity experienced over this past week; on Wednesday the State tested 5,660 people. By yesterday, that number was up to 16,124 individuals tested.
  • Positive Rate: The Governor also noted that today's positive rate is about 17%, which is well below our cumulative average of 21%While he relayed that it is too early to say whether this is a result of expanded testing criteria or an indicator of flattening the curve, it is nonetheless a positive sign when more people are getting tested and there is a lower ratio of positives.
  • Public Testing Sites: Governor Pritzker highlighted that we now have 112 public testing sites across all of IDPH's 11 regions that are available to the public and entirely free. Beyond those 112 locations, there are also healthcare providers that are conducting tests for their own existing patients. The full list of public testing sites can be found on the State's coronavirus website at https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/testing-sites.
  • Hospitalization Numbers: As of Thursday, 4,828 people were hospitalized across the state with COVID-19. 25% of those patients, or 1,225, were in the ICU, and 58% of those ICU patients, or 709, were on ventilators.
  • Daily Statewide COVID-19 cases: 2,724 new cases reported and 108 additional deaths.


Have a great weekend!

Grace


Grace B. Hou

Secretary, IDHS