New COVID-19 cases in children again in decline

New COVID-19 cases in Illinois children are down for the fourth consecutive week.

The Illinois Department of Public Health updated the data it makes public for school-aged cases. New data items include a seven-day rolling average for four age groups: 18-22 year olds, 12-17 year olds, 5-11 year olds, and 0-4 year olds, along with the percentage of emergency department visits broken down for COVID-19 specific visits, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza for 0-4 year olds and 5-17 year olds.

Emergency department visits for youth for COVID-19 are also trending down, according to state data, with children aged 0-4 coming into the emergency department more for RSV than COVID-19 or influenza, and children aged 5-17 coming in more for COVID-19 than RSV or influenza.

With publicly available data going back to April 30, the percentage of emergency department visits for COVID-19 peaked for 0-4 year olds peaked on August 26, with 2.36% of emergency department visits for that day for COVID-19. Data for October 7 was 0.0% for this age group.

Among 5-17 year olds, the peak was September 6, with 4.54% of emergency department visits for that day for that age group were for COVID-19. That came down to 1.6% on October 7.

IDPH reported 2,744 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 35 additional deaths Friday.

For Thursday, the state administered 33,235 shots.

The state received the results of 145,034 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Friday afternoon. The state’s positivity rate is 2.1%.

Illinois has seen 1,650,108 total cases of the virus, and 25,224 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 32,938,108 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Thursday, Illinois had 1,653 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, the fewest since August 12. Of those, 412 were in intensive care units, and 209 were on ventilators.

Vaccine update: As of Friday, IDPH reported a total of 17,727,225 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 14,822,824 vaccines administered.

As of the time this story was published, 7,109,230 of the population of Illinois have been fully vaccinated, or 55.80%. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

Among Illinois residents 12 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 6,826,383 (63%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,715,613 (80.4%)

Among Illinois residents 18 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 6,359,671 (64.5%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,076,119 (82%)

Among Illinois residents 65 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 1,606,291 (78.6%)

At Least 1 Dose: 1,964,630 (96.2%)

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: 57.80%

Suburban Cook: 61.28%

Lake: 58.12%

McHenry: 56.39%

DuPage: 65.08%

Kane: 56.26%

Will: 56.34%

Kendall: 57.66%

La Salle: 50.26%

Grundy: 48.80%

DeKalb: 48.74%

Ogle: 48.92%

Lee: 51.78%

Whiteside: 46.49%

Bureau: 48.26%

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 2.4%. Currently, 22% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average increased to 3.3%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 2.0%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable nine out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down 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, 26% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity rate stayed flat at 2.8%, and DuPage County’s stayed flat at 2.5%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable eight out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 146 total COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The South Suburban (Will and Kankakee counties) region’s positivity rate increased to 4.2%. Currently, 23% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable seven out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 98 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 3.9%.

Currently, 16% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate increased to 2.6%, Lee County’s rate decreased to 1.7%, and Whiteside County’s went up to 3.2%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable seven out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 113 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 3.1%.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate increased to 1.8%. Currently, 18% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for seven out of the past 10 days. The region is down to a total of 195 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Chicago’s positivity rate increased to 1.9%. 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 increased to 2.2%. Currently, 15% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable 10 out of the past 10 days in this region.