As COVID-19 hospitalizations rise, breakthrough hospitalizations decline

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 236 breakthrough COVID-19 hospitalizations for the past week, and 46 breakthrough deaths. It’s a 15% week-over-week decrease in breakthrough hospitalizations and a 19% week-over-week decrease in breakthrough deaths.

The breakthrough hospitalizations week-over-week decline come as Illinois has seen a sharp rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations, eclipsing more than 1,600 total active hospitalized patients for the first time in more than a month.

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 3,272 breakthrough hospitalizations, and 7,303,577 of the state’s population is fully vaccinated. Of the fully vaccinated population in the state, 99.955% have not been hospitalized with a breakthrough COVID-19 infection.

There have been 981 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 22.3% of all COVID-19 hospitalizations in Illinois in the past week, down from about 32.4% the week before. This means those who are not fully vaccinated made up 77.7% of COVID-19 hospital admissions in the past week. Breakthrough deaths accounted for 34.8% of all COVID-19 deaths in Illinois last 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:

73% are 65 or older (2,378 total breakthrough hospitalizations in this group)

27% are between 18 and 64 years old (887 total breakthrough hospitalizations in this group)

51% have at least one underlying condition or are immunocompromised

For breakthrough deaths:

87% were 65 or older

13% were between 18 and 64

46% had at least one underlying condition or were immunocompromised

IDPH reported 4,989 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 23 additional deaths Wednesday.

For Tuesday, the state administered 68,144 shots. Illinois also has administered a total of 127,642 doses to 5-11 year olds, an increase of 9,230 doses from the previous day’s update.

The state received the results of 122,747 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday afternoon. The state’s positivity rate went up to 2.9%.

Illinois has seen 1,752,502 total cases of the virus, and 26,160 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 37,537,725 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Tuesday, Illinois had 1,609 COVID-19 patients in the hospital. Of those, 325 were in intensive care units, and 149 were on ventilators.

Vaccine update: As of Wednesday, IDPH reported a total of 19,636,555 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 16,553,367 vaccines administered.

As of the time this story was published, 7,303,577 of the population of Illinois have been fully vaccinated, or 57.32%. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

State data shows 1,409,965 booster doses have been administered, an increase of 42,733 doses from Tuesday’s update.

Among Illinois residents 12 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 7,774,757 (71.7%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,496,746 (78.4%)

Among Illinois residents 18 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 7,220,806 (73.3%)

At Least 1 Dose: 7,884,751 (80%)

Among Illinois residents 65 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 1,779,017 (87.1%)

At Least 1 Dose: 1,936,161 (94.8%)

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: 59.35%

Suburban Cook: 62.99%

Lake: 59.76%

McHenry: 58.05%

DuPage: 66.60%

Kane: 57.90%

Will: 58.04%

Kendall: 59.54%

La Salle: 51.70%

Grundy: 50.69%

DeKalb: 50.09%

Ogle: 50.41%

Lee: 52.96%

Whiteside: 47.24%

Bureau: 49.97%

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 3.7%. Currently, 23% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average increased to 4.7%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 3.3%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable two out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to a total of 94 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The West Suburban (DuPage and Kane counties) region’s positivity rate increased to 3.5%. Currently, 21% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity rate increased to 3.8%, and DuPage County’s increased to 3.4%.

Hospitalizations have increased 10 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 stayed flat at 4.5%. Currently, 20% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 104 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 6.8%.

Currently, 12% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate fell to 5.1%, Lee County’s rate increased to 2.7%, and Whiteside County’s went up to 3.6%.

Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 138 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 4.2%.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate decreased to 2.8%. Currently, 21% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased for 10 out of the past 10 days. The region is up to a total of 169 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Chicago’s positivity rate increased to 2.6%. Currently, 16% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for one out of the past 10 days.

Suburban Cook County’s positivity rate stayed flat at 2.6%. Currently, 14% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region.