Data: Illinois COVID-19 hospitalization surge driven by unvaccinated patients

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 173 breakthrough COVID-19 hospitalizations for the past week, and 37 breakthrough deaths. It’s a 37% week-over-week decrease in breakthrough hospitalizations and a 35% week-over-week decrease in breakthrough deaths.

The decline in breakthrough hospitalizations comes as Illinois has seen a significant increase in total COVID-19 hospitalizations - a 24% increase in the past week alone – eclipsing 2,400 total active hospitalized patients for the first time since February.

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.

Analysis of new hospital admissions for covid-like illness in the state over the past week put breakthrough hospitalizations at 11.01% of all COVID-19 hospitalizations in Illinois in the past week, down from 21.5% the week before. This means those who are not fully vaccinated made up 88.99% of COVID-19 hospital admissions in the past week. Breakthrough deaths accounted for 25.3% 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.

There have been a total of 3,722 breakthrough hospitalizations, and 7,400,161 of the state’s population is fully vaccinated. Of the fully vaccinated population in the state, 99.95% have not been hospitalized with a breakthrough COVID-19 infection.

There have been 1,075 total breakthrough COVID-19 deaths in Illinois.

The 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 (2,692 total breakthrough hospitalizations in this group)

27% are between 18 and 64 years old (1,022 total breakthrough hospitalizations in this group)

50% have at least one underlying condition or are immunocompromised

For breakthrough deaths:

87% were 65 or older

13% were between 18 and 64

45% had at least one underlying condition or were immunocompromised

The IDPH reported 6,119 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 45 additional deaths Wednesday.

The more than 6,000 new cases in a single day is the most since Jan. 22.

For Tuesday, the state administered 69,039 shots. Illinois also has administered a total of 241,262 doses to 5-11 year olds, an increase of 13,389 doses from Tuesday’s update. As a state, 19.45% of Illinois children 5-11 years old have received a first vaccine dose, and 2.41% have received two doses.

The state received the results of 113,848 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday afternoon. The state’s positivity rate went up to 4.4%.

Illinois has seen 1,815,994 total cases of the virus, and 26,459 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 39,229,345 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Tuesday, Illinois had 2,458 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, the most since Feb. 2. Of those, 470 were in intensive care units, and 217 were on ventilators.

Vaccine update: As of Wednesday, the IDPH reported a total of 20,099,125 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 17,357,231 vaccines administered.

As of Wednesday, 7,400,161 Illinoisans have been fully vaccinated, or 58.08% of the population. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

State data shows 1,912,588 booster doses have been administered, an increase of 39,798 doses from Tuesday’s update.

There can be as much as a 72-hour delay in reporting from health care providers on vaccines administered.

Among Illinois residents 5 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 7,820,909 (65.6%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,798,676 (73.8%)

Among Illinois residents 12 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 7,793,892 (71.9%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,569,345 (79.1%)

Among Illinois residents 18 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 7,236,296 (73.4%)

At Least 1 Dose: 7,948,299 (80.7%)

Among Illinois residents 65 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 1,768,370 (86.5%)

At Least 1 Dose: 1,930,172 (94.5%)

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: 60.17%

Suburban Cook: 63.88%

Lake: 60.79%

McHenry: 58.94%

DuPage: 67.47%

Kane: 58.57%

Will: 58.83%

Kendall: 60.31%

La Salle: 52.31%

Grundy: 51.35%

DeKalb: 50.89%

Ogle: 50.93%

Lee: 53.61%

Whiteside: 47.62%

Bureau: 50.64%

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 7.2%. Currently, 21% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average increased to 9.2%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 6.3%.

Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to a total of 144 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The West Suburban (DuPage and Kane counties) region’s positivity rate increased to 6.0%. Currently, 24% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity rate increased to 6.8%, and DuPage County’s increased to 5.6%.

Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 195 total COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The South Suburban (Will and Kankakee counties) region’s positivity rate stayed increased to 7.6%. Currently, 13% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable one out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 137 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 9.3%.

Currently, 14% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate fell to 7.5%, Lee County’s rate increased to 4.2%, and Whiteside County’s went down to 7.1%.

Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 206 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 increased to 6.9%.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate stayed flat at 4.3%. Currently, 17% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for three out of the past 10 days. The region is up to a total of 223 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Chicago’s positivity rate increased to 3.7%. Currently, 17% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days.

Suburban Cook County’s positivity rate increased to 5.2%. Currently, 16% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region.