On July 5for the first time in nearly 16 monthsIllinois went a full day without losing a resident to COVID-19, The Chicago Sun-Times reported.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported no new COVID-19 fatalities that day, which hadn't happened previously since March 16, 2020a few days before Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered residents to stay inside their homes as much as possible to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.
It's still possible one or more fatalities could eventually be added to the rare total, as officials often adjust daily figures based on delayed reports from hospitals, especially after a holiday.
Chicago had not reported any coronavirus deaths for a full week, though that could also change because those figures are generally delayed.