SOUTHERN ILLINOIS – State health officials Sunday reported 4,469 new COVID-19 cases including 81 additional deaths, including one in Jefferson County. A third of cases in southern Illinois included those reported at a Perry County correctional facility.

This brings the total number of cases to 979,821 including 16,755 deaths in Illinois.

Local case breakdown:

• Perry County: 183 (since 12/31/2020, 97 at correctional facility)
• Williamson County: 43
• Franklin County: 37
• Saline County: 27
• Jackson County: 23
• White County: 16
• Gallatin County: nine

The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from Dec. 27–Jan. 2 is 8.3 percent.