Illinois COVID 19: IL reports 1,953 new coronavirus cases, 28 deaths | WATCH Gov. JB Pritzker give update

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Illinois public health officials announced 1,953 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday along with 28 additional deaths.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Illinois now stands at 255,643 with 8,242 deaths, the IDPH reported.

The preliminary seven-day positivity rate from September 3-9 is 3.8%.

Governor JB Pritzker gave an update on the state's COVID-19 response Thursday and said while Region 7, comprised of Will and Kankakee counties, is seeing progress, mitigations will remain in effect.

Governor Pritzker said the rolling seven-day positivity rate has fallen to 7.5% in the region, but it needs to fall below 6.5% in order to be restored to Phase 4.

Within the past 24 hours, the state has processed 48,982 specimens for a total of 4,575,721.

As of Wednesday night, 1,609 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, with 346 patients in the ICU and 141 patients on ventilators.

The 28 additional COVID-19 deaths include:

-Adams County: 1 male 90s

-Christian County: 1 female 50s

-Cook County: 2 males 60s, 1 female 70s

-Edgar County: 1 male 80s

- Ford County: 1 male 80s

-Henry County: 1 male 70s

-Jersey County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s

-Kane County: 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s

-Lake County: 1 male 70s

-Madison County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s

-McLean County; 1 male 70s

-Montgomery County: 1 female 70s

-Randolph County: 1 female 50s

-Rock Island County: 1 female 80s

- Sangamon County: 1 male 40s

- Shelby County: 1 male 90s

- Will County: 1 female 40s, 1 male 60s, 1 male 90s

-Winnebago County: 1 male 60s

-Woodford County: 1 male 80s

Earlier Thursday, Governor Pritzker announced $16.6 million in federal money to expand job opportunities for people unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Even when times are hard - especially when times are hard - we have to invest in the things that lift up our communities - and we gather today to celebrate another such effort. I'm proud to announce that a $16.6 million investment to expand job opportunities for Illinoisans who have become unemployed in the COVID-19 pandemic - to place, train and hire nearly 1,300 people for an array of jobs in Rockford and across the state," said Governor JB Pritzker. "This federal funding - made possible by the Department of Labor's Emergency Recovery and Disaster Recovery Grant programs - will help us address a goal for reinvigorating our economy that is two-fold - returning more of our residents to the job while simultaneously addressing new economic demands brought on by COVID-19."