Jackson County sees 2nd death; Officials: State has 1,344 new cases and 66 more deaths

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - The Jackson County Health Department announced Thursday afternoon that another Jackson County resident died as a result of COVID-19.

"Our thoughts are with the family, as they mourn the passing of their loved one," Jackson County Health Department Administrator Bart Hagston said. "Sadly, this disease is proving to be unforgiving in some cases, particularly in our elderly population."

The person who died was a woman in her 90s, he said.

Her death was one of three new cases reported in Jackson County. Two others, a man in his 70s and a woman in her 80s, also tested positive.

Both are isolated at their respective homes and doing well, according to the health department's news release.

Jackson County now has had 25 residents test positive for COVID-19.

The department said 231 had been tested, and six people who tested positive had recovered enough to no longer be isolated.

The Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department reported three new cases Thursday afternoon.

Those cases are:

A female in her 50s, from Williamson County, who likely acquired it while working in a health care setting. She is on home isolation and doing well.

A female in her 40s, from Franklin county, who likely acquired it from community spread. She is home in isolation and is doing well.

A female in her 40s from Franklin county, who likely acquired it from community spread and is currently hospitalized.

To date, there have been a total of 10 laboratory confirmed positives in Williamson County and four laboratory confirmed positives in Franklin county of COVID-19.

Egyptian Health Department, which covers Saline, Gallatin and White counties, reported a third positive case Tuesday.

The woman, in her 40s, is believed to have contracted the disease through community spread. She is at home in isolation.

State health officials announced Thursday that 66 more people have died from coronavirus, while another 1,344 are infected with the disease. That increases the number of Illinois residents who have died to 528, and the number of infected in the state to 16,422.

Staff writer Holly Kee contributed to this report