COVID-19 hospitalizations, positivity rate continue to fall as Illinois enters “Bridge Phase”

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,841 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 49 additional deaths Friday, and a total of 10,229,330 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered.

For Thursday, the first day 12-15 year olds could get the Pfizer vaccine, the state reported administering 50,326 shots.

Friday marked the first day of the Bridge Phase for Illinois, with a target for a full reopening of the state on Friday, June 11.

The seven-day rolling average of Illinois’ positivity rate decreased from 2.7% to 2.5%. The state received the results of 83,624 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Friday afternoon.

Illinois has seen 1,363,507 total cases of the virus, and 22,369 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 23,677,720 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Thursday, Illinois had 1,708 COVID-19 patients in the hospital. Of those, 425 were in intensive care units, and 237 were on ventilators.

[ CDC: Fully vaccinated people can largely ditch masks indoors; Illinois to continue to follow CDC guidance ]

Vaccine update: As of Friday, IDPH reported a total of 12,730,155 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 10,229,330 vaccines administered.

As of the time this story was published, 4,690,335 of the population of Illinois have been fully vaccinated, or 36.81%. 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: 36.27%

Cook: 38.99%

Lake: 33.79%

McHenry: 33.82%

DuPage: 42.95%

Kane: 34.93%

Will: 34.74%

Kendall: 36.25%

La Salle: 30.76%

Grundy: 33.51%

DeKalb: 30.83%

Ogle: 33.13%

Lee: 32.83%

Whiteside: 30.86%

Bureau: 32.04%

Regional update: All 11 regions in the state are in the Bridge Phase - the final phase before a full reopening of the state’s businesses.

Barring any setbacks in new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations or deaths, the state will enter Phase 5 on Friday, June 11.

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

The North Suburban (McHenry and Lake counties) region’s positivity rate dropped to 2.9%. Currently, 29% 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 5.7%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 2.2%.

Hospitalizations have increased six out of the past 10 days in this region.

The West Suburban (DuPage and Kane counties) region’s positivity rate stayed flat at 4.2%. Currently, 24% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity stayed flat at 5.4%, and DuPage County’s fell to 3.6%.

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

The South Suburban (Will and Kankakee counties) region’s positivity rate decreased to 4.0%. Currently, 27% of ICU beds are available.

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

The North (Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago counties) region’s positivity rate increased to 4.4%.

Currently, 19% of ICU beds are available. Friday is the 32nd straight day this region is under 20% ICU capacity.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate stayed flat at 5.2%, Lee County’s rate increased to 1.3%, and Whiteside County’s increased to 2.1%.

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

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

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate increased to 4.2%.

Currently, only 19% of ICU beds are available. Friday is the 36th day with ICU capacity below 20%. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for 10 out of the past 10 days.

Chicago’s positivity rate decreased to 3.7%.

Currently, 21% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for seven out of the past 10 days.

Suburban Cook County’s positivity rate decreased to 3.7%.

Currently, 20% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable eight 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 80s

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

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

• Edgar County: 1 female 50s

• Ford County: 1 female 40s

• Franklin County: 1 male 60s

• Fulton County: 1 female 50s

• Hancock County: 1 female 70s

• Henry County: 1 female 80s

• Jersey County: 1 male 70s

• Kane County: 1 female 40s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s

• Kendall County: 1 female 60s

• Madison County: 1 female 70s

• McHenry County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s

• Morgan County: 1 female 60s

• Peoria County: 1 female 40s, 1 male 50s, 2 males 60s, 1 female 80s

• Rock Island County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s

• Schuyler County: 1 male 90s

• St. Clair County: 1 male 60s

• Stephenson County: 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s

• Tazewell County: 1 male 50s

• Whiteside County: 1 male 40s

• Williamson County: 1 male 80s

• Winnebago County: 1 male 90s