The Illinois Department of Public Health Thursday reported 4,942 new cases of coronavirus across the state with 44 additional deaths. Deaths were reported from Clay, Effingham, Richland, Wayne and White counties here in southeastern Illinois. The Lawrence County Health Department was notified of 2 county residents who tested positive for COVID-19. The cases are unrelated and both individuals-females in their 20s-are under home quarantine with contact tracing underway. With the 2 new cases, Lawrence County is now at 326 positives with 52 of those being active. 1 person is hospitalized with 264 people recovered. There have been 10 deaths. Since the pandemic began, the IDPH as reported a total of 360,159 cases of the disease with 9,387 deaths statewide.