COVID-19 hospitalizations in Illinois back under 2,000 as state is one week from the “Bridge Phase”

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,321 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 36 additional deaths Friday, and a total of 9,719,958 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered.

For Thursday, the state administered 73,526 shots.

The seven-day rolling average of Illinois’ positivity rate increased from 3.0% to 3.1%. The state received the results of 101,005 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Friday afternoon.

Illinois has seen 1,351,497 total cases of the virus, and 22,171 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 23,204,489 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Thursday, Illinois had 1,977 COVID-19 patients in the hospital. Of those, 464 were in intensive care units, and 239 were on ventilators.

Vaccine update: As of Friday, IDPH reported a total of 12,390,875 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 9,719,958 vaccines administered.

As of the time this story was published, 4,334,906 of the population of Illinois have been fully vaccinated, or 34.02%. 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.

[ Pfizer aims for full FDA approval of vaccine ]

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

Chicago: 33.17%

Suburban Cook: 35.71%

Lake: 31.11%

McHenry: 30.78%

DuPage: 38.66%

Kane: 31.24%

Will: 31.59%

Kendall: 32.50%

La Salle: 28.06%

Grundy: 31.86%

DeKalb: 28.90%

Ogle: 30.77%

Lee: 31.36%

Whiteside: 29.62%

Bureau: 30.39%

Bridge update: Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday afternoon the state would move to the Bridge Phase on Friday, May 14, barring any COVID-related setbacks.

As of Friday, 80.14% of Illinois residents 65 and older had received one dose of the vaccine, according to the state’s dashboard.

Also, according to the state’s dashboard, 55.95% of Illinois residents 16 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

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

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

The North Suburban region (McHenry and Lake counties) has seen 104 consecutive days below 8% for its COVID-19 test positivity rate. The region’s positivity rate decreased to 3.6%. Currently, 25% 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 stayed flat at 6.3%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 2.9%.

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

The West Suburban region (DuPage and Kane counties) has seen 107 consecutive days below 8%. The region’s positivity rate decreased to 5.0%. Currently, 21% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity decreased to 5.9%, and DuPage County’s stayed flat at 4.5%.

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

The South Suburban region (Will and Kankakee counties) has seen 109 consecutive days below 8%. The region’s positivity rate decreased to 5.6%. Currently, 21% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations have increased 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 below 8% for 111 days. The region’s positivity rate decreased to 5.4%.

Currently, 18% of ICU beds are available. Friday is the 25th straight day this region is under 20% ICU capacity.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate increased to 5.3%, Lee County’s rate stayed flat at 1.2%, and Whiteside County’s decreased to 3.6%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable eight 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 113 days below 8%. The region’s positivity rate decreased to 4.8%.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate decreased to 4.5%.

Currently, only 16% of ICU beds are available. Friday is the 29th day with ICU capacity below 20%. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for eight out of the past 10 days.

Chicago has seen 107 consecutive days below 8%. The region’s positivity rate stayed increased to 4.5%.

Currently, 19% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for seven out of the past 10 days.

Suburban Cook County has seen 107 days below 8%. The region’s positivity rate decreased to 4.5%.

Currently, 19% of ICU beds are available. The region has been under the 20% threshold for 10 straight days. Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable 10 out of the past 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:

• Boone County: 1 male 60s

• Clark County: 1 female 80s

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

• DuPage County: 1 male 50s

• Franklin County: 1 male 50s

• Fulton County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 70s

• Grundy County: 1 male 40s

• Jefferson County: 1 female 70s

• Knox County: 1 female 90s

• Lake County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 70s

• La Salle County: 1 female 80s

• Macon County: 1 male 80s

• Monroe County: 1 male 70s

• Peoria County: 1 female 70s

• St. Clair County: 1 female 60s

• Tazewell County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s

• Will County: 2 males 50s

• Williamson County: 1 female 70s