Illinois reports highest daily coronavirus count of 2021, and officials say some infections tied to Thanksgiving gatherings and travel

CHICAGO — A week after Thanksgiving, Illinois on Thursday reported this year’s highest daily total of new coronavirus cases, while COVID-19 hospitalizations have risen higher than any point since last winter.

The 11,524 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 reported by the state health department were the most in one day since Dec. 1, 2020, when 12,542 cases were reported. Over the past week, the state has averaged 5,313 daily cases, the highest level since mid-January.

There are number of potential factors contributing to Thursday’s spike. There were roughly twice as many test result reported compared with the recent average, possibly because of lags in reporting over the holiday weekend, Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said.

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