NEARLY TWO THOUSAND CASES OF COVID-19 WERE REPORTED TODAY (THURSDAY) IN ILLINOIS, THE HIGHEST ONE DAY TOTAL SINCE EARLY MAY.

THE LATEST DAILY TOTAL IS ONE-THOUSAND-993 AND SIX ADDITIONAL DEATHS. GOVERNOR J-B PRITZKER SAYS THEY ARE CAREFULLY WATCHING THE NUMBERS.

HE SAYS MORE PEOPLE NEED TO GET VACCINATED.

AS FAR AS VARIANTS GO, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER FIVE TIMES AS MANY CASES OF THE NEW GAMMA STRAIN THAN THE DELTA VARIANT IN ILLINOIS