Only 42 people died in such facilities this week compared to 84 deaths the previous week, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
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IDPH data published Friday also shows that just 30% of the state's COVID-19 deaths in the last seven days occurred in long-term care facilities, compared to 54% the week before.
RELATED: Illinois nursing homes to remain on COVID-19 lockdown; death rate climbs
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The ABC7 I-Team reported in mid-June that long-term care facilities were the state's hardest-hit sector in the coronavirus pandemic, accounting for at least 55% of COVID-19 deaths at that time.
RELATED: Illinois coronavirus nursing home deaths continue to climb, but new CDC data may be off
Illinois reported 1,317 new cases of COVID-19 Friday and 25 new deaths, raising the positivity rate to 2.9%.