Breakthrough hospitalizations see increase; unvaccinated still majority of new COVID-19 hospitalizations

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 909 breakthrough COVID-19 hospitalizations for the past week, and 128 breakthrough deaths. It’s a 145% week-over-week increase in breakthrough hospitalizations and a 16% week-over-week increase in breakthrough deaths.

Illinois has seen a continued increase in total COVID-19 hospitalizations – a 16% increase in the past week alone – eclipsing 3,600 total active hospitalized patients for the first time since January.

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. It does not take into account booster shots.

Analysis of new hospital admissions for COVID-19-like illness in the state over the past week put breakthrough hospitalizations at 36.78% of all COVID-19 hospitalizations in Illinois in the past week, up from 19.17% the week before. This means those who are not fully vaccinated made up 63.22% of COVID-19 hospital admissions in the past week. Breakthrough deaths accounted for 42.5% 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 5,001 breakthrough hospitalizations, and 7,595,887 of the state’s population is fully vaccinated. Of the fully vaccinated population in the state, 99.934% have not been hospitalized with a breakthrough COVID-19 infection.

There have been 1,313 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:

71% are 65 or older (3,566 total breakthrough hospitalizations in this group)

28% are between 18 and 64 years old (1,421 total breakthrough hospitalizations in this group)

Fewer than 1% are younger than 17 years old (14 total breakthrough hospitalizations in this group)

72% have at least one underlying condition or are immunocompromised

For breakthrough deaths:

88% were 65 or older

12% were between 18 and 64

54% had at least one underlying condition or were immunocompromised

IDPH reported 9,784 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 79 additional deaths Wednesday.

For Tuesday, the state administered 70,988 shots. Illinois also has administered a total of 422,453 doses to 5-11 year olds, an increase of 10,660 doses from Tuesday’s update. As a state, 23.88% of Illinois children 5-11 years old have received a first vaccine dose, and 14.37% have received two doses.

The state received the results of 142,873 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday afternoon. The state’s positivity rate went up to 4.5%.

Illinois has seen 1,921,433 total cases of the virus, and 27,013 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 41,632,021 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Tuesday, Illinois had 3,614 COVID-19 patients in the hospital. Of those, 759 were in intensive care units, the most since January 10, and 382 were on ventilators.

Vaccine update: As of Wednesday, IDPH reported a total of 20,973,245 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 18,322,040 vaccines administered.

As of the time this story was published, 7,595,887 of the population of Illinois have been fully vaccinated, or 59.62%. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

State data shows 2,503,401 booster doses have been administered, an increase of 43,107 doses from Tuesday’s update.

CDC numbers:

Among Illinois residents 5 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 8,025,415 (67.3%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,987,808 (75.4%)

Among Illinois residents 12 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 7,864,579 (72.6%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,703,934 (80.3%)

Among Illinois residents 18 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 7,297,889 (74.1%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,075,604 (82%)

Among Illinois residents 65 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 1,771,358 (86.7%)

At Least 1 Dose: 1,938,929 (94.9%)

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: 61.86%

Suburban Cook: 65.74%

Lake: 63.23%

McHenry: 60.48%

DuPage: 69.50%

Kane: 60.16%

Will: 60.43%

Kendall: 62.16%

La Salle: 53.54%

Grundy: 52.49%

DeKalb: 51.99%

Ogle: 51.79%

Lee: 54.47%

Whiteside: 48.22%

Bureau: 51.61%

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 6.1%. Currently, 12% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average increased to 8.0%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 5.3%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to a total of 235 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The West Suburban (DuPage and Kane counties) region’s positivity rate stayed flat at 6.3%. Currently, 15% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity rate decreased to 7.0%, and DuPage County’s increased to 5.9%.

Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 342 total COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The South Suburban (Will and Kankakee counties) region’s positivity rate increased to 8.0%. Currently, 6% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 220 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 9.2%.

Currently, 9% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate increased to 6.9%, Lee County’s rate increased to 8.6%, and Whiteside County’s stayed flat at 6.7%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable one out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 260 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 7.9%.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate increased to 5.8%. Currently, 10% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased for 10 out of the past 10 days. The region is up to a total of 370 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Chicago’s positivity rate increased to 4.2%. Currently, 10% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased for 10 out of the past 10 days.

Suburban Cook County’s positivity rate increased to 4.9%. Currently, 11% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region.