Illinois health officials on Thursday announced 4,342 new known cases of COVID-19 and 44 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known infections in Illinois to 360,159 and the statewide death toll to 9,387 since the start of the pandemic.

The seven-day statewide positivity rate is 5.7%.

A day before, Illinois recorded its highest daily coronavirus-related death toll since June, as the state continues to see increases in metrics on deaths, daily cases and test positivity rate.

Meanwhile, state officials for the first time said that they will begin to make public data about coronavirus outbreaks in schools.

The decision comes two weeks after a story by ProPublica Illinois and the Tribune detailed the lack of information available to school officials and parents as they try to decide whether in-person learning is safe.

Illinois public health officials had told reporters there had been outbreaks in at least 44 school buildings across the state but declined to say where.

Here’s what’s happening Thursday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:.

Illinois health officials on Thursday announced 4,342 new known cases of COVID-19 and 44 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known infections in Illinois to 360,159 and the statewide death toll to 9,387 since the start of the pandemic.

The seven-day statewide positivity rate is 5.7%.

Southern Illinois goes back under more stringent coronavirus restrictions Thursday, joining the northwest part of the state, after hitting an area-wide positivity rate of 8% as COVID-19 cases surge across the state and country.

When regions reach a positivity rate of 8% or higher for three consecutive days, Pritzker’s administration has ordered indoor dining and bar service shuttered, and gathering limits set at 25, down from 50 in the state’s reopening plan.

Policy changes leading up to the universal pre-K rollout seemed to be paying off, according to a study released Wednesday by researchers at the University of Chicago and Start Early, the early childhood education nonprofit formerly known as Ounce of Prevention.

Chicago Public Schools leaders acknowledge that COVID-19′s disproportionate impact on Black and Latino communities is threatening their progress — a reality district leaders are citing to support arguments for bringing the youngest students, along with children in some special education groups, back to more than 400 schools next quarter.

Laniyah was one of about 7,500 children in Chicago public housing or discounted, rented housing who will be given a free winter coat this week at the Credit Union 1 Arena on the city’s Near West Side