Illinois COVID-19 vaccines trending up; hospitalizations down

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,344 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 42 additional deaths Thursday.

For Wednesday, the state administered 27,097 shots. The state’s seven-day rolling average of 23,885 vaccines per day is the highest average since Sept. 5.

The state received the results of a single-day state record 180,411 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Thursday afternoon. The state’s positivity rate decreased to 2.2%.

Illinois has seen 1,627,508 total cases of the virus, and 24,976 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 31,878,109 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Wednesday, Illinois had 1,840 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, a decline of more than 60 patients overnight. Of those in the hospital with COVID-19, 453 were in intensive care units, and 225 were on ventilators.

Vaccine update: As of Thursday, the IDPH reported a total of 17,271,415 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 14,555,022 vaccines administered.

As of Thursday, 7,037,865 Illinoisans have been fully vaccinated, or 55.24% of the population. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

Among Illinois residents 12 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 6,760,594 (62.4%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,638,942 (79.7%)

Among Illinois residents 18 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 6,300,761 (63.9%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,005,677 (81.2%)

Among Illinois residents 65 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 1,597,337 (78.2%)

At Least 1 Dose: 1,945,551 (95.2%)

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: 57.20%

Suburban Cook: 60.73%

Lake: 57.68%

McHenry: 55.89%

DuPage: 64.55%

Kane: 55.66%

Will: 55.75%

Kendall: 57.03%

La Salle: 49.61%

Grundy: 48.23%

DeKalb: 48.31%

Ogle: 48.10%

Lee: 51.30%

Whiteside: 46.22%

Bureau: 47.67%

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 stayed flat at 2.9%. Currently, 16% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average stayed flat at 3.3%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 2.7%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable six out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to a total of 98 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The West Suburban (DuPage and Kane counties) region’s positivity rate decreased to 2.8%. Currently, 26% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity rate decreased to 3.0%, and DuPage County’s decreased to 2.7%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable six out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 151 total COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The South Suburban (Will and Kankakee counties) region’s positivity rate decreased to 4.2%. Currently, 22% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable seven out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 117 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 stayed flat at 3.9%.

Currently, 16% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate fell to 3.8%, Lee County’s rate decreased to 1.8%, and Whiteside County’s went up to 3.9%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable one out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 118 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 decreased to 4.0%.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate decreased to 2.6%. Currently, 19% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for five out of the past 10 days. The region is up to a total of 212 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Chicago’s positivity rate stayed flat at 2.2%. Currently, 17% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for 10 out of the past 10 days.

Suburban Cook County’s positivity rate fell to 2.4%. Currently, 17% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable 10 out of the past 10 days in this region.