Covid-19 numbers in Illinois are soaring as post-Thanksgiving infections begin surging in, with infection numbers doubling and record-high death tolls reported.

Illinois had 238 people die from covid-19 over the past 24 hours, marking the deadliest day for the virus since the beginning of the pandemic.

Covid-19 cases doubled from Monday to Tuesday and remain far over last week’s declining numbers.

The previous high had been 192 deaths on May 13, during the first wave of the pandemic. The total number of deaths in the state recorded is now 12,639 deaths since March. Over the past week, numbers have spiked dangerously, with 116 fatalities per day over the past week, near the record high of 118 set in the spring and matched a week ago.

This matches infection numbers roaring back after a lull following Governor JB Pritkzer’s new mitigations put in place on Nov. 20.

After Monday’s report of just 6,338 new cases, Tuesday’s report listed OVER DOUBLE THE NUMBER, or 12,685 new cases in Illinois and 125 new deaths. Today’s number adds another 9,757 infections and the record-number 238 deaths.

Illinois will remain under tier 3 covid mitigations for at least two to three more weeks, and could elevate to a more restrictive level if numbers get worse, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said today in his daily press conference.

With covid-19 cases spiking throughout the state, Pritzker had put in place the new restrictions on Nov. 20, mentioning not just the rapid spread in terms of covid infections but their impact upon hospitals and people who may need the hospitals for other health emergencies.

“We are still very much in a precarious place and we have got to take the time to evaluate any Thanksgiving effect before we make any premature adjustments,” Pritzker said.

Millions of people ignored CDC protocols, doctors’ advice and experts’ warnings prior to the Thanksgiving holidays, as evidenced by the more than three million people who traveled across the country, according to the TSA, leading to a pessimistic view of the next few weeks in regard to cases, according to IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.

Pritzker said he consulted with Fauci, the Illinois Department of Public Health, as well as Dr. Rob Murphy at Northwestern Medicine and Dr. Emily Landon at U of C Medicine in making the decision.

“We have got to take the time to evaluate any Thanksgiving effect before we make any premature adjustments,” Pritzker emphasized. “I spoke with Dr. Fauci last week, and he said the massive number of indoor gatherings will likely bring another post-Thanksgiving surge, and this is no time to pull back on mitigations.”

Dr. Ezike recommended that people who visited someone’s home last week get tested for COVID-19 later this week.

“It is recommend to wait about six or seven days after exposure to be tested but if you do have symptom please get tested right away,” Ezike said.

“When the nations experts and state experts agree the virus may become more pervasive in the coming weeks, it’s time to listen to them, and I am,” Pritzker said. “That’s why I’m keeping all mitigations in place. The hope is that we can fend off the surge in the next few weeks so that we can get to a better time in late December.

“Our collective prayer is that everyone stays healthy and that the numbers continue their downward trajectory,” Pritzker added. “My hope is that the public joins us in making that prayer come true.”