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Illinois COVID-19 cases surpass 83,000

On May 12, Illinois reported 4,014 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 144 new deaths

CHICAGO — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker gave an update on the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic Tuesday afternoon.

This week, Pritzker began broadcasting from his home after a staffer tested positive for COVID-19.

Click here to watch the full press conference.

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On May 12, Illinois reported 4,014 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 144 new deaths. There have been 83,021 total confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3,601 deaths, according to the Illinois Department of Health

A total of 471,691 tests have been performed.

On May 5, Gov. Pritzker announced a five-phase, regional plan for reopening the state.

RELATED: Illinois announces regional approach to reopening state in phases

RELATED: Breaking down Illinois' 5-step reopening plan

On April 25, Gov. Pritzker and Dr. Ngozi Ezike with the Illinois Department of Public Health cautioned against the ingesting, injecting or snorting of household cleaners, citing an increased amount of calls to the Illinois Poison Center.

The large increase in cases on Friday was due to the state administering its largest number of tests, officials said. Gov. JB Pritzker said the state met its goal of 10,000 COVID-19 tests per day.

"Testing is really key to everything else we need to do, to get Illinois moving again," he said.

Patients have ranged in age from younger than 1 to 99 years old, the Illinois Department of Public Health said.

Illinois reports first infant death of COVID-19

Most of the cases and deaths have been in the Chicago area.

IDPH said the number of COVID-19 cases being reported is rising quickly partly because testing is becoming easier, but also because the virus is spreading across communities.

On April 23, Gov. Pritzker extended the stay-at-home order for Illinois through May 30. The new order also requires people over the age of 2 to wear facemasks when going out in public.

'I’m asking you to hold on just a little while longer' | Illinois Gov. Pritzker extends stay-at-home order through May

On April 17, he announced students will stay home from school through the rest of the school year.

On April 2,  the state launched a new statewide initiative called “All in Illinois” to reinforce the state’s message during the coronavirus pandemic: stay home and stay safe.

As Illinois residents practice social distancing, the initiative is a way to “unite residents across the state and remind them we are all in this together.”

Gov. Pritzker launches ‘All in Illinois’ initiative to reinforce stay at home message

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