Illinois sees smallest increase in breakthrough COVID-19 hospitalizations in more than 2 months

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 76 breakthrough COVID-19 hospitalizations for the past week, and 48 breakthrough deaths. It is the smallest increase in breakthrough hospitalizations since the second week of August.

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 2,373 breakthrough hospitalizations, and 7,183,367 of the state’s population is fully vaccinated. Of the fully vaccinated population in the state, 99.967% have not been hospitalized with a breakthrough COVID-19 infection.

There have been 727 total breakthrough COVID-19 deaths in Illinois.

Analysis of new hospital admissions for covid-like illness in the state over the past week put breakthrough hospitalizations at 8.1% of all COVID-19 hospitalizations in Illinois in the past week, down from about 15.7% the week before. This means those who are not fully vaccinated made up 91.9% of COVID-19 hospital admissions in the past week.

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.

IDPH also released new data about breakthrough hospitalizations and deaths, showing the majority of breakthrough hospitalizations happening in the elderly population.

For breakthrough hospitalizations:

72% are 65 or older (1,710 total breakthrough hospitalizations in this group)

28% are between 18 and 64 years old (659 total breakthrough hospitalizations in this group)

54% have at least one underlying condition or are immunocompromised

For breakthrough deaths:

88% were 65 or older

12% were between 18 and 64

50% had at least one underlying condition or were immunocompromised

IDPH reported 2,447 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 36 additional deaths Wednesday.

The state’s seven-day rolling average for cases per day fell to 2,130 cases per day, the lowest since August 4.

For Wednesday the state administered 33,353 shots.

The state received the results of 114,281 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday afternoon. The state’s positivity rate dropped to 1.9%.

Illinois has seen 1,675,793 total cases of the virus, and 25,527 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 34,208,215 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Tuesday, Illinois had 1,382 COVID-19 patients in the hospital. Of those, 350 were in intensive care units, and 165 were on ventilators.

Vaccine update: As of Wednesday, IDPH reported a total of 18,146,865 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 15,132,881 vaccines administered.

As of the time this story was published, 7,183,367 of the population of Illinois have been fully vaccinated, or 56.38%. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

Among Illinois residents 12 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 6,873,931 (63.4%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,775,465 (81%)

Among Illinois residents 18 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 6,403,103 (65%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,131,867 (82.5%)

Among Illinois residents 65 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 1,612,500 (78.9%)

At Least 1 Dose: 1,977,653 (96.8%)

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: 58.31%

Suburban Cook: 61.93%

Lake: 58.72%

McHenry: 57.11%

DuPage: 65.68%

Kane: 56.95%

Will: 56.99%

Kendall: 58.37%

La Salle: 50.83%

Grundy: 49.52%

DeKalb: 49.26%

Ogle: 49.59%

Lee: 52.24%

Whiteside: 46.83%

Bureau: 48.94%

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

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average increased to 3.1%. 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 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to a total of 85 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The West Suburban (DuPage and Kane counties) region’s positivity rate decreased to 2.6%. Currently, 26% of ICU beds are available.

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

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable eight out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 124 total COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The South Suburban (Will and Kankakee counties) region’s positivity rate decreased to 3.4%. Currently, 22% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable eight out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 86 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 3.6%.

Currently, 14% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate stayed flat at 2.5%, Lee County’s rate decreased to 2.1%, and Whiteside County’s went up to 2.6%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable nine out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 107 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 decreased to 1.6%. Currently, 15% 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 196 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Chicago’s positivity rate stayed flat at 2.0%. Currently, 16% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for 10 out of the past 10 days.

Suburban Cook County’s positivity rate stayed flat at 1.8%. Currently, 17% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable nine out of the past 10 days in this region.