SOUTHERN ILLINOIS – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Wednesday reported 1,848 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 22 additional confirmed deaths. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 279,114 cases, including 8,508 deaths, in 102 counties.

Three southern Illinois counties – including Williamson, Saline and Franklin – reported deaths due to the novel coronavirus.

Local case breakdown:

• Saline County: 17, one death
• Williamson County: 14, one death at a long term care facility
• Jackson, Pulaski and Union counties: six
• Jefferson County: five
• Perry and Randolph counties: four each
• Massac and Johnson counties: three each
• Hardin and Gallatin counties: one each

The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity rate for testing from September 16-22 is 3.5%.  Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 46,391 specimens for a total of 5,231,607.