Downstate accounts for 40% of Illinois’ new COVID-19 cases, up from 10% three months ago – Daily Herald

State health officials blamed the outbreaks in downstate counties on "business operations and activities posing higher risk for disease spread, including school graduation ceremonies, a rise in cases among late teens and 20s, parties and social gatherings, people going to bars, long-term care outbreaks, clusters of cases associated with restaurants and churches, and big sports events including soccer, golf, and softball tournaments."