MONDAY MARKED THE TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST CASE OF COVID-19 REPORTED IN ILLINOIS. 

THAT INITIAL CASE IN JANUARY OF 2020 WAS A CHICAGO WOMAN WHO HAD RETURNED FROM A TRIP TO WUHAN, CHINA. SINCE THEN MORE THAN TWO-POINT-EIGHT MILLION PEOPLE HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS AND OVER 30-THOUSAND HAVE DIED. CASES AND HOSPITLIZATIONS REACHED RECORD LEVELS THIS MONTH, ALTHOUGH THE SURGE SEEMS TO HAVE PEAKED. DURING LAST WEEK'S COVID-19 BRIEFING, GOVERNOR J-B PRITZKER REMINDED HOW SERIOUS THE PANDEMIC REMAINS.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THOSE THAT ARE MOST SICK CONTINUE TO BE THE UNVACCINATED. AT MOST RECENT COUNT, OVER 52-HUNDRED PATIENTS WERE IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID-19.

SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, MORE THAN TWO-POINT-EIGHT MILLION ILLINOISANS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AND OVER 30-THOUSAND HAVE DIED.