(WTTW News)

The number of new COVID-19 infections has been steadily increasing for weeks and on Wednesday surpassed 5,000 for the first time in a 24-hour period since January, according to theIllinois Department of Public Health.

The 5,178 new confirmed and probable cases of the virus mark the highest single-day total since Jan. 22, when the state reported 7,042 cases.

Officials also reported 26 deaths Wednesday.

The grim milestone comes amid a surge of infections across the country and ahead of Labor Day weekend, which hasfederal health officials asking unvaccinated travelers not to travel.

More than 1.5 million people have been infected with COVID-19 and 23,979 have died since the pandemic began, according state health officials.

The seven-day statewide positivity rate is now 5.1%, according to IDPH data.

Nearly all of Illinois’ 102 counties are experiencing high transmission of COVID-19, defined by IDPH as areas with more than 100 cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day period. Putnam County is experiencing substantial transmission, defined as between 50 and 100 cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day period.

In Cook County, the average seven-day case rate per 100,000 people is 138.75, according to state data.

Chicago is now recording 467 cases per day based on a seven-day average, according toChicago Department of Public Health data. In the past week, the number of cases has increased 1%, according to city data.

The city’s COVID-19 test positivity rate is now 4.3%, down from 4.5% a week ago.

A statewide indoor mask mandate began Monday for everyone, regardless of vaccination status.

Contact Kristen Thometz:@kristenthometz|(773) 509-5452|[email protected]