SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A backlog of test reporting caused Friday’s statewide COVID-19 numbers to skew highly.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 5,368 new cases of coronavirus. Labs across the state reported receiving 149,273 tests during the respective 24-hour reporting period.
These numbers consist partially of positive cases and specimens from earlier in the week that were caught in the system delay.
The agency said a couple system upgrades have been made to ensure quicker processing and, thus, more accurate daily results.
IDPH also confirmed 29 additional deaths.
The preliminary seven-day rolling positivity rate sat at 4.1%, a decrease.
1,621 people were reportedly in Illinois hospitals with the virus. of them, 360 were in intensive care and 155 were on ventilators.
More information and numbers on COVID-19 in the area and state can be found HERE.