COVID-19's survival rate doesn't negate deaths it caused

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - State health officials have said the second wave of COVID-19 is here.

Positivity rates and hospitalizations have increased, however many say the virus has a high survival rate. Health officials said that is a false narrative.

As of Wednesday, more than 11,000 Illinoisans have died from COVID-19. The virus is not letting up. Local health officials are begging people to wear a mask.

As cases continue to rise, some central Illinoisans believe masks don't work. They said COVID-19 has a high survival rate. Gail O'Neil, Sangamon County's public health director, said "any kind of preventable death is a sad one."

"I believe less people will survive if our hospitals get overrun and the medical system isn't able to keep up the care that they can," O'Neil said.

Brandi Binkley, Macon County's public health administrator, said COVID-19's high survival rate can create a false sense of security.

"And I think it also discounts the fact that people have lost their lives to COVID-19," Binkley said.

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Illinois' top health official, said the novel coronavirus is worse than a typical cold. She said it is estimated the flu annually causes between 12,000 and 61,000 deaths in the United States.

"But in this year alone, we have more than 246,000 deaths that are attributed to COVID-19," Ezike added.

With hopes to avoid another lockdown, health experts say masks and being social distant does work.