Coronavirus figures are starting to level off and that is leaving healthcare officials in DeWitt County optimistic that perhaps the worst of the coronavirus is behind us.

Paul Skowron is the CEO of Warner Hospital and Health Services and believes even in Chicago, the numbers coming in are starting to level off. Skowron credits Governor JB Pritzker for embracing many ideas and believes reopening Illinois is not an easy task.

According to Dave Remmert, Executive Director of the DeWitt/Piatt Bi-County Health Department, the state hit a 16-day low in fatalities earlier this week, only to be followed by a new daily high the next day but he remains encouraged by other numbers, like increased testing.

Skowron also points out that testing going up and the number of cases plateauing is a good sign. As for down the road, Skowron hopes a gradual reopening of Illinois will lift the spirits of residents. 

While there has been a spike in fatalities from the coronavirus in recent days after a 16-day low, overtime Remmert anticipates those numbers to continue to decline they had been in recent weeks.

The region that encompasses DeWitt and Piatt County has less than ten hospitalizations from coronavirus however, the region cannot progress to phase 3 of the Governor's five-phase plan until June 1. 

Skowron says antibody in the last week has started to make strides after the FDA tightened the reigns on testing earlier this week, adopting more stringent standards for coronavirus antibody testing. He feels the summer will give developers time to come up with accurate tests. 

Remmert still believes healthy people need to out and back to their daily routines while maintaining social distancing from vulnerable populations.