THERE'S BEEN RECENT IMPROVEMENT IN THE COVID-19 NUMBERS COMPARED TO LAST MONTH'S SPIKE, BUT STATE OFFICIALS WARN ILLINOIS COULD STILL SEE A POST-THANKSGIVING SURGE. 

ALTHOUGH THERE'S HASN'T BEEN A HUGE INCREASE IN NEW CASES OVER THE PAST WEEK, GOVERNOR J-B PRITZKER SAYS IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL IF THANKSGIVING GET TOGETHERS CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT UPTICK IN HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.

THE GOVERNOR STRESSES THAT ANY PROGRESS IS VERY PRELIMINARY AND URGES FAMILIES NOT TO UNDO ALL THIS HARD WORK BY HOLDING LARGE HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS. STATE PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR DOCTOR NGOZI (en-gahzi) EZIKE (eh-zee-kay) SAYS THERE IS STILL A LONG ROAD AHEAD.

OFFICIALS ALSO STRESS THAT ALTHOUGH HOSPITALIZATION NUMBERS HAVE BEEN FALLING SLIGHTLY SINCE THE PEAK IN MID-NOVEMBER, MORE COVID PATIENTS ARE CURRENTLY IN THE HOSPITAL THAN LAST SPRING.