Illinois COVID-19 hospitalizations fall to mid-August levels

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,371 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 36 additional deaths Thursday.

For Wednesday, the state administered 47,306 shots. The state’s seven-day average for vaccine administration is now 33,510 vaccines per day, the highest average since September 4.

The state received the results of 163,742 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Thursday afternoon. The state’s positivity rate is 2.2%.

Illinois has seen 1,647,364 total cases of the virus, and 25,189 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 32,793,074 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Wednesday, Illinois had 1,676 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, the fewest since August 12. Of those, 409 were in intensive care units, and 216 were on ventilators.

Vaccine update: As of Thursday, IDPH reported a total of 17,515,415 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 14,789,589 vaccines administered.

As of the time this story was published, 7,101,351 of the population of Illinois have been fully vaccinated, or 55.74%. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

Among Illinois residents 12 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 6,820,298 (62.9%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,708,376 (80.4%)

Among Illinois residents 18 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 6,354,223 (64.5%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,069,438 (81.9%)

Among Illinois residents 65 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 1,605,154 (78.6%)

At Least 1 Dose: 1,962,687 (96.1%)

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: 57.74%

Suburban Cook: 61.22%

Lake: 58.08%

McHenry: 56.35%

DuPage: 65.03%

Kane: 56.20%

Will: 56.27%

Kendall: 57.59%

La Salle: 50.21%

Grundy: 48.72%

DeKalb: 48.70%

Ogle: 48.88%

Lee: 51.73%

Whiteside: 46.46%

Bureau: 48.22%

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 decreased to 2.3%. Currently, 21% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average decreased to 3.0%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 2.1%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable eight out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to a total of 95 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The West Suburban (DuPage and Kane counties) region’s positivity rate stayed flat at 2.6%. Currently, 25% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity rate decreased to 2.8%, and DuPage County’s went up to 2.5%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable nine out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 144 total COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The South Suburban (Will and Kankakee counties) region’s positivity rate decreased to 4.0%. Currently, 23% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable six out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 101 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 decreased to 3.8%.

Currently, 16% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate increased to 2.3%, Lee County’s rate increased to 1.8%, and Whiteside County’s went down to 3.1%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable seven out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 110 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 3.2%.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate decreased to 1.7%. Currently, 19% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for six out of the past 10 days. The region is down to a total of 199 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Chicago’s positivity rate fell to 1.8%. Currently, 18% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for eight out of the past 10 days.

Suburban Cook County’s positivity rate fell to 2.1%. Currently, 15% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable 10 out of the past 10 days in this region.