Illinois COVID-19 hospitalizations rise up to early June levels as state aligns with CDC mask guidance

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,669 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and five additional deaths Tuesday, and a total of 13,112,424 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered.

For Monday, the state administered 17,776 shots.

The state received the results of 31,019 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Tuesday afternoon. The state’s positivity rate is 3.7%.

Tuesday afternoon, IDPH announced the state has fully aligned with the updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on face masks.

Citing new information about the ability of the delta variant to spread among vaccinated people, the CDC also recommended indoor masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.

“While data continues to show the effectiveness of the three COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the U.S., including against the Delta variant, we are still seeing the virus rapidly spread among the unvaccinated,” IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in a statement. “Cases and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 both continue to increase, overwhelmingly among the unvaccinated, but the risk is greater for everyone if we do not stop the ongoing spread of the virus and the Delta variant. We know masking can help prevent transmission of COVID-19 and its variants.”

“Until more people are vaccinated, we join CDC in recommending everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask indoors in areas of substantial and high transmissions, and in K-12 schools.”

Areas of substantial transmission are considered by CDC to be those with 50 to 99 cases per 100,000 people over a 7-day period. Areas of high transmission are considered to be those with more than 100 cases per 100,000 people over a 7-day period. The community level of transmission can be found at covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view.

Illinois has seen 1,413,490 total cases of the virus, and 23,414 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 26,678,361 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Monday, Illinois had 801 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, the most since June 4. Of those, 169 were in intensive care units, and 62 were on ventilators.

Vaccine update: As of Tuesday, IDPH reported a total of 14,669,125 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 13,112,424 vaccines administered.

As of Tuesday, 6,429,063 Illinoisans have been fully vaccinated, or 50.46% of the population. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

Among Illinois residents 12 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 6,090,500 (56.2%)

At Least 1 Dose: 7,795,126 (71.9%)

Among Illinois residents 18 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 5,757,434 (58.4%)

At Least 1 Dose: 7,294,827 (74%)

Among Illinois residents 65 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 1,536,228 (75.2%)

At Least 1 Dose: 1,862,661 (91.2%)

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

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

Chicago: 51.36%

Suburban Cook: 54.52%

Lake: 51.46%

McHenry: 49.71%

DuPage: 59.01%

Kane: 49.52%

Will: 49.46%

Kendall: 50.99%

La Salle: 44.07%

Grundy: 42.25%

DeKalb: 43.13%

Ogle: 43.12%

Lee: 46.50%

Whiteside: 42.55%

Bureau: 41.98%

Regional update: All 11 regions in the state are in Phase 5.

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

The North Suburban (McHenry and Lake counties) region’s positivity rate increased to 3.1%. Currently, 34% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average increased to 4.8%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 2.6%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable three out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to a total of 29 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The West Suburban (DuPage and Kane counties) region’s positivity rate increased to 3.7%. Currently, 27% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity rate increased to 3.6%, and DuPage County’s increased to 3.7%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable three out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 52 total COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The South Suburban (Will and Kankakee counties) region’s positivity rate increased to 3.5%. Currently, 28% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable four out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 23 total COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The North (Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties) region’s positivity rate increased to 4.3%.

Currently, 19% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate increased to 3.6%, Lee County’s rate stayed flat at 1.3%, and Whiteside County’s stayed flat at 1.5%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable two out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 26 total COVID-19 hospitalizations.

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 increased to 3.7%.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate increased to 2.9%. Currently, 29% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for one out of the past 10 days. The region is down to a total of 56 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Chicago’s positivity rate increased to 2.4%. Currently, 20% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for three out of the past 10 days.

Suburban Cook County’s positivity rate increased to 2.6%. Currently, 22% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region.