In Thursday’s daily COVID-19 update, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,239 new cases with 138 deaths. Laboratories in the state reported processing 27,678 tests with a seven-day rolling rate of positive tests at 17 percent. State totals are now 87,937 cases including 3,928 deaths.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported 72,671 initial unemployment claims for the week ending May 9, indicating a plateau in new claims. Approximately 1,076,000 claims were processed between March 1 and May 9. IDES reported processing nearly 34,000 Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation claims for those who have exhausted regular unemployment benefits. The agency also reported processing more than 50,000 claims under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program for workers who would not normally qualify for conventional jobless benefits.
Governor JB Pritzker called a request by Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady for meetings on the re-opening plan “grandstanding.” Pritzker said he has talked with Brady and other Republicans regularly and Brady knows how to reach him. Brady responded on Twitter that the public has a right to know how decisions affecting their lives are being made, and his request for meetings is about transparency.
