SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — With Hanukah, Christmas and New Year’s coming up, it’s vital that everyone continue to wear a mask and not get together in large groups of people, according to Illinois Gov. J-B Pritzker.
During his daily COVID-19 briefing Monday, Pritzker noted that with three out of four staffed hospital beds currently in use statewide for COVID cases, hospitals may not be able to handle another surge.
90 Illinois residents lost their lives due to the virus between Sunday and Monday, Pritzker said.
“Some of them might have gotten tired and let their guard down. Others might have been trying to do their best to do all the right things, and someway, somehow, still got infected,” Pritzker said.
Some numbers have improved this week, but they’re still way too high, according to Pritzker.
“And, even with this downward movement, our COVID-19 hospitalization total statewide is still 14% higher than our spring peak,” the governor said.
With more holidays coming up, Pritzker said it’s more important than ever to wear a mask and socially distance.