March 29, 2024

Illinois surpasses 20,000 COVID-19 deaths

State’s positivity rate falls to 2.9%, and 3.32% of Illinois residents have received both COVID-19 vaccine doses

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,420 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 41 additional deaths Monday, and a total of 1,823,208 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered.

Illinois has now seen 20,002 people die with COVID-19.

The 1,420 new COVID-19 cases announced is the fewest in a single day since Sept. 29.

The seven-day rolling average of Illinois’ positivity rate decreased from 3.0% to 2.9%. The state received the results of 52,389 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Monday afternoon.

Illinois has seen 1,163,574 total cases of the virus. The state has conducted a total of 17,224,247 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Sunday, Illinois had 1,789 COVID-19 patients in the hospital. Of those, 389 were in intensive care units, and 184 were on ventilators.

Vaccine update: As of Monday, IDPH reported a total of 2,472,925 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 1,823,208 vaccines administered.

As of the time this story was published, 422,419 of the population of Illinois have been fully vaccinated, or 3.32%. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

There can be as much as a 72-hour delay in reporting from healthcare providers on vaccines administered.

In northern Illinois, here is the percentage of the population fully vaccinated by county:

Chicago: 3.37%

Suburban Cook: 3.12%

Lake: 2.31%

McHenry: 2.48%

DuPage: 3.71%

Kane: 2.40%

Will: 2.82%

Kendall: 2.94%

La Salle: 3.30%

Grundy: 3.27%

DeKalb: 2.76%

Ogle: 3.40%

Lee: 3.60%

Whiteside: 3.57%

Bureau: 3.35%

Regional update: Currently, all 11 of the state’s health regions are in Phase 4 of the state’s reopening plan.

Phase 5 in Illinois – all sectors of the economy reopen with businesses, schools, and recreation resuming normal operations with new safety guidance and procedures – comes when “either a vaccine is developed to prevent additional spread of COVID-19, a treatment option is readily available that ensures health care capacity is no longer a concern, or there are no new cases over a sustained period,” according to the state’s Restore Illinois plan.

Regional data from the IDPH remains on a three-day lag.

Confused about the different tiers and phases of the governor’s COVID-19 response? Read how a region can advance through the tiers and into Phase 4 here.

The North Suburban region (McHenry and Lake counties) has seen 15 consecutive days at or under 6.5% for its COVID-19 test positivity rate. The region’s positivity rate decreased to 4.5%. Currently, 35% of ICU beds are available.

The region has never dropped below the 20% threshold for ICU bed availability since tracking began.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average decreased to 5.3%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 4.3%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable for 10 out of the last 10 days in this region.

The West Suburban region (DuPage and Kane counties) has seen 14 consecutive days at or under 6.5%. The region’s positivity rate decreased to 4.2%. Currently, 28% of ICU beds are available.

The region has 64 consecutive days over the 20% threshold for ICU bed availability.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity average is at 4.6% and DuPage County is at 3.9%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable for 10 out of the last 10 days in this region.

The South Suburban region (Will and Kankakee counties) has seen 17 consecutive days at or under 6.5%. The region’s positivity rate decreased slightly to 4.7%. Currently, 29% of ICU beds are available.

The region has 46 consecutive days under the 20% threshold for ICU bed availability.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable for six out of the past 10 days in this region.

The North region (Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago counties) has maintained a positivity rate of 6.5% or below for 23 days. The region’s positivity rate decreased to 3.4%. Currently, 27% of ICU beds are available.

The region has seen 64 consecutive days above the 20% threshold for ICU bed availability.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate stayed flat at 3.4%, Lee County’s rate decreased slightly to 0.6%, and Whiteside County’s rate decreased to 5.0%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable for nine out of the past 10 days in this region.

The North-Central region (Bureau, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Kendall, Knox, La Salle, Livingston, Marshall, McDonough, McLean, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, and Woodford counties) has seen 24 days under 6.5%. The region’s positivity rate decreased to 4.1%.

Currently, 31% of ICU beds are available. The region has at least 51 consecutive days over the 20% threshold for ICU bed availability. Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable for nine out of the last 10 days in this region.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate stayed the same at 3.6%.

Chicago has seen 18 consecutive days under 6.5%. The region’s positivity rate stayed flat at 3.8%.

Currently, 27% of ICU beds are available. The region has 64 consecutive days over the 20% threshold for ICU bed availability.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable for 10 out of the last 10 days in this region.

Suburban Cook County has seen 19 days under 6.5%. The region’s positivity rate decreased to 4.3%.

Currently, 25% of ICU beds are available. The region has 45 consecutive days over the 20% threshold for ICU bed availability.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable for 10 out of the last 10 days in this region.

To see how other regions across the state are doing, see the full IDPH dashboard here.

Newly reported deaths include:

• Champaign County: 1 male 40s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s

• Cook County: 1 male 20s, 1 male 40s, 1 female 50s, 2 males 50s, 3 females 60s, 2 males 60s, 4 females 70s, 2 males 70s, 2 females 80s, 4 males 80s, 2 males 90s

• Douglas County: 1 female 80s

• DuPage County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s

• Kane County: 1 female 90s

• Lake County: 1 male 60s, 2 females 90s, 1 male 90s

• McLean County: 1 female 80s

• Peoria County: 1 male 60s

• Will County: 1 male 50s, 2 males 80s

John Sahly

John Sahly

John Sahly is the digital editor for the Shaw Local News Network. He has been with Shaw Media since 2008, previously serving as the Northwest Herald's digital editor, and the Daily Chronicle sports editor and sports reporter.