COVID-19 now third leading cause of death in Illinois

Posted on November 18, 2020
Gov. JB Pritzker says, even in this difficult year, he loves being governor. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois has passed eleven thousand coronavirus deaths, and COVID-19 is now the third leading cause of death in the state.

As unhappy as the numbers make state public health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike, so do the people – whom the governor calls a loud minority – who say this is all phony.

“If people want to bury their heads in the sand and pretend this virus doesn’t exist, or is not that bad, I guess they are free to do so,” said Ezike at Wednesday’s daily coronavirus briefing. “What you should not be able to do is risk the health of individuals and everyone you come in contact with because you won’t wear a mask or because you won’t stop hosting or going to events and gatherings or because you won’t socially distance.”

The state’s new cases reported Wednesday total 8,922.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]. 

 

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