The Daily Illini COVID-19 updates for April 28: Illinois reaches 2,000 virus deaths, virtual Commencement scheduled

By Ethan Simmons, News Editor

Illinois had its biggest single-day increase in fatalities from COVID-19 on Tuesday, with 144 more coronavirus-related deaths. For the fifth time in the last seven days, state officials confirmed over 2,000 new cases of the coronavirus.

UI President Tim Killeen has created a system-wide committee to plan reopening strategies for UI’s three campuses.

A virtual Commencement celebration has been scheduled for the University of Illinois class of 2020. It will be held May 16 at noon CDT, at go.illinois.edu/celebration.

The original ceremony was postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus on March 17. University officials have said in-person graduation ceremonies will be rescheduled “when it is safe to do so.”

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District announced five more cases of the coronavirus in Champaign County on Tuesday, bringing the countywide total to 114 cases.

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Of the 114 cases, 22 are active, 86 have recovered and six have died. Six people with active cases are currently hospitalized. Less than 5% of Champaign County’s 2,624 tests have proved positive. County health officials recommend anyone with symptoms — fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue and loss of taste or smell — to get tested.

Confirmed cases of coronavirus as of April 28, 9:00 p.m. 

Numbers following (+) indicate increases from the previous day.

World: 3,114,659 cases; 216,989 deaths; 925,921 recoveries

United States: 1,012,399 cases; 58,348 deaths; 115,648 recoveries with 5,795,728 tested (+202,233)

Illinois: 48,102 cases (+2,219); 2,125 deaths (+144) with 242,189 tested (+14,561)

Chicago: 19,594 cases (+912); 803 deaths (+31)

Champaign County: 114 cases (+5); 6 deaths; 86 recoveries (+5) with 2,624 tested (+95)

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