The state hit a new high mark for testing Sunday, returning nearly 20,000 COVID-19 tests results in the last 24 hours, as Gov. JB Pritzker continued to stress that expanded capacity to check people for the virus is the key to reducing existing economic and social restrictions.

Among the 19,417 test results were 2,994 new infections. The outbreak has spread to at least 97 of the state’s counties.

Pritzker also reported 63 deaths in the past 24 hours to COVID-19, taking the state’s total for fatalities to 2,618 since the outbreak began more than two months ago.

Across the state, 4,701 people were hospitalized with infections. Of them, 1,232 were in Intensive Care Units and 759 of those patients were on ventilators.

Pritzker announced that the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation partnered with a group of banks to allow non-customers to cash stimulus checks without any fees. The governor encouraged anyone without a bank account who receives a paper check to utilize one of these banks to cash the stimulus check to get the full economic effect and not lose any of it to check cashing fees.

The banks are: Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, U.S. Bank, Fifth Third and First Midwest.

Pritzker was asked about reports of numerous house parties and other defiance of the stay-at-home order over the weekend.

He urged people to follow the rules and that it might be two weeks before people learn how many infections spread because of these parties.

Asked about whether his two-person per boat rule might be altered, the governor said enforcement is up to local officials but that the rule follows the data about concerns of large groups of people being in small spaces.

Pritzker was asked why dog groomers were open but hair salons were not.

He responded that a pet groomer doesn’t have to come within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19.

Asked about movement on federal package to aid states, Pritzker said he was on the phone with U.S. Senator Durbin yesterday and there appears to be real support for helping the states and that the governor’s particular concerns was making sure smaller governments’ needs were addressed.

The governor also noted that May is “National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month,” a time to recognize and honor the role that Asian and Pacific Islander immigrants have played in shaping our country, often while enduring racism and xenophobia.

Press release:

Public Health Officials Announce 2,994 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease

Sunday, May 3, 2020 - Public Health, Department of

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 2,994 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 63 additional deaths.

• Cook County: 2 males 40s, 3 females 50s, 3 males 50s, 4 females 60s, 7 males 60s, 1 female 70s, 9 males 70s, 5 females 80s, 5 males 80s, 4 females 90s, 4 males 90s
• DuPage County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
• Jefferson County: 1 male 80s
• Kane County: 1 male 70s
• Lake County: 1 male 30s, 1 female 70s
• Madison County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 90s
• Monroe County: 1 female 90s
• Will County: 1 female 70s
• Winnebago County: 1 male 50s, 1 female 60s, 1 female 70s, 2 females 90s

Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 61,499 cases, including 2,618 deaths, in 97 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have processed 19,417 specimens for a total of 319,313.

For all personal protective equipment (PPE) donations, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

*All data are provisional and will change. Information for deaths previously reported have changed, therefore, today's numbers have been adjusted. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.