Illinois COVID 19 update today: IT reports 7,178 new coronavirus cases, 57 deaths as travelers return from Thanksgiving vacation

CHICAGO (WLS) – Illinois public health officials reported 7,178 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 as well as 57 deaths on Sunday.

WATCH: Lower positivity rate in Illinois could be a sign that mitigation is working, says Pritzker

The total number of cases in Illinois now stands at 720,114, with a total of 12,193 deaths.

Over a 24-hour period, officials said the state processed 62,740 specimens. A total of 10,431,018 samples have been tested since the start of the pandemic in Illinois.

The state-wide seven-day pre-test positivity from Nov. 22 to 28 is 12.1 percent.

As of Saturday night, 5,858 people in Illinois were reportedly hospitalized for COVID-19. Of these, 1,185 patients were in intensive care with COVID-19 and 723 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.

Officials in Illinois and across the country have pleaded with Americans to limit travel during the Thanksgiving holiday to help prevent the growing coronavirus epidemic from spreading further and faster.

RELATED: Chicago Hospitals Prepare for COVID-19 Outbreak After Thanksgiving After Holiday Weekend

But millions of people ignored the warnings and left their homes this week. Experts fear this could translate into even more infections and deaths in the weeks to come, at a time when colder weather is forcing people inside and closer.

Chicago-based United Airlines has started shipping the first batches of the COVID-19 vaccine on charter flights, a source told ABC News.

The source is aware of the operation, according to ABC.

RELATED: Where To Find COVID-19 Tests in the Chicago Area

Deaths reported on Sunday include:

– Bureau County: 1 man from the 70s
– County of Champaign: 1 woman from the 1950s
– Cook County: 1 man 40 years old, 3 women 50 years old, 1 man 50 years old, 1 woman 60 years old, 4 men 60 years old, 5 women 70 years old, 3 men 70 years old, 9 men 80 years old, 1 woman 90 years old, 5 men 90 years old
– DuPage County: 1 woman from the 80s, 2 men from the 80s
– County of Fayette: 2 men from the 80s
– Fulton County: 1 woman from the 90s
– County of Kane: 1 man 50 years old, 1 man 70 years old
– County Knox: 1 man from the 1980s
– County of LaSalle: 1 man from the 80s

– Logan County: 1 woman from the 80s
– Madison County: 1 70s woman, 1 70s man, 1 80s woman, 1 80s man
– Mason County: 1 woman from the 90s
– County of Massac: 1 woman from the 1970s
– County of Ogle: 1 woman from the 80s
– Peoria County: 1 man 50 years old, 1 woman 90 years old
– Rock Island County: 1 man 50 years old
– Whiteside County: 1 man from the 90s

The Associated Press contributed to this report.