Illinois COVID-19 breakthrough hospitalizations declined 27% this week

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 159 breakthrough COVID-19 hospitalizations for the past week, and 66 breakthrough deaths.

The number of breakthrough hospitalizations decreased by 59 week-over-week, a 27% decline from the previous week, and the number of breakthrough deaths decreased by 29 week-over week.

Breakthrough is defined as an individual who tests positive for COVID-19 at least 14 days after being fully vaccinated and did not test positive in the previous 45 days.

There have been a total of 1,887 breakthrough hospitalizations, and 6,965,241 of the state’s population is fully vaccinated. Of the fully vaccinated population the state, 99.973% have not been hospitalized with a breakthrough COVID-19 infection.

Analysis of new hospital admissions for covid-like illness in the state over the past week put breakthrough hospitalizations at 11.5% of all COVID-19 hospitalizations in Illinois in the past week, down from about 14.1% the week prior.

COVID-19-like illness is defined as a if a patient presents with a fever and either cough, difficulty breathing or is given a diagnosis of COVID-19.

The IDPH reported 3,561 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 39 additional deaths Wednesday.

For Tuesday, the state administered 23,707 shots.

The state received the results of 118,813 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday afternoon. The state’s positivity rate fell to 3.2%.

Illinois has seen 1,605,320 total cases of the virus, and 24,699 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 30,912,653 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Tuesday, Illinois had 2,028 COVID-19 patients in the hospital. Of those, 494 were in intensive care units, and 262 were on ventilators.

Vaccine update: As of Wednesday, IDPH reported a total of 17,135,875 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 14,377,808 vaccines administered.

As of Wednesday, 6,965,241 Illinoisans have been fully vaccinated, or 54.67% of the population. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

Among Illinois residents 12 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 6,681,362 (61.6%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,563,934 (79%)

Among Illinois residents 18 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 6,230,638 (63.2%)

At Least 1 Dose: 7,938,296 (80.6%)

Among Illinois residents 65 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 1,588,994 (77.8%)

At Least 1 Dose: 1,933,496 (94.6%)

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: 56.55%

Suburban Cook: 60.18%

Lake: 57.22%

McHenry: 55.35%

DuPage: 64.13%

Kane: 55.13%

Will: 55.18%

Kendall: 56.40%

La Salle: 48.98%

Grundy: 47.63%

DeKalb: 47.79%

Ogle: 47.52%

Lee: 50.81%

Whiteside: 45.80%

Bureau: 46.83%

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 3.5%. Currently, 18% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average increased to 3.8%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 3.4%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable eight out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to a total of 96 COVID-19 patients in the hospital. This is the first time since August 21 that the region has fewer than 100 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The West Suburban (DuPage and Kane counties) region’s positivity rate increased to 3.8%. Currently, 25% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity rate increased to 3.8%, and DuPage County’s stayed flat at 3.7%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable nine out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 150 total COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The South Suburban (Will and Kankakee counties) region’s positivity rate increased to 4.8%. Currently, 23% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable five out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 124 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 5.1%.

Currently, 17% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate stayed flat at 4.9%, Lee County’s rate decreased to 2.2%, and Whiteside County’s went up to 5.3%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable four out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 106 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 stayed flat at 4.9%.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate stayed flat at 3.6%. Currently, 17% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for 10 out of the past 10 days. The region is down to a total of 205 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Chicago’s positivity rate increased to 3.1%. Currently, 17% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for eight out of the past 10 days.

Suburban Cook County’s positivity rate increased to 3.1%. Currently, 15% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable nine out of the past 10 days in this region.

Hard-hit southern Illinois, Region 5, is up to three available, staffed ICU beds out of 90.