COVID-19 concerns continue across Illinois. The Department of Public Health Wednesday reported 7,538 cases statewide with 55 deaths. The Lawrence County Health Department was notified Wednesday of 10 Lawrence County residents testing positive for the disease. The local cases are not related and all are under home quarantine with contact tracing underway. There have now been 421 positives in Lawrence County with 55 cases active. 1 person remains hospitalized while 357 people have recovered. There have been 9 deaths. Overall since the pandemic began, there have been 437,556 cases statewide with 9,933 deaths. In Indiana, Knox County had 9 cases Wednesday and was at 1000 cases total. Health officials continue to emphasize wearing a mask or face covering, social distancing and frequent handwashing to help prevent the spread especially with the end of the year holidays-Thanksgiving and Christmas- approaching.