COVID-19 hospital admissions, cases, trending down from all-time highs

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 29,639 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 153 additional deaths Friday, as new hospital admissions for COVID-19 declined for the fourth consecutive day.

The seven-day rolling average for new cases dropped to 29,639 new cases per day, the first time in five days the state’s average has been fewer than 30,000 new cases a day. The 153 new deaths is the most in a single day since January 7, 2021.

For Thursday, the state administered 55,122 shots.

The state received the results of 279,901 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Friday afternoon. The state’s positivity rate dropped to 10.6%

Illinois has seen 2,589,640 total cases of the virus, and 29,099 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 47,949,094 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Thursday, Illinois had 7,320 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, an overnight decline of 60 patients. Of those, 1,148 were in intensive care units, and 657 were on ventilators.

Illinois saw a fourth straight day in a decline of new hospital admissions for covid-like illness, down to 606 new hospital admissions from a high of 645.

Vaccine update: As of Friday, IDPH reported a total of 22,536,165 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 19,893,424 vaccines administered.

As of the time this story was published, 7,810,499 of the population of Illinois have been fully vaccinated, or 61.30%. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

Also, 3,509,466 people have received a booster dose, or 27.3% of the state’s population. Among 5-11 year olds, 32.46% have received at least one vaccine dose and 23.08% are fully vaccinated.

Among Illinois residents 5 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 8,249,015 (69.2%)

At Least 1 Dose: 9,361,737 (78.5%)

Among Illinois residents 12 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 7,975,337 (73.6%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,973,971 (82.8%)

Among Illinois residents 18 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 7,390,386 (75%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,314,005 (84.4%)

Among Illinois residents 65 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 1,777,046 (87%)

At Least 1 Dose: 1,955,699 (95%)

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: 63.64%

Suburban Cook: 67.80%

Lake: 65.26%

McHenry: 62.08%

DuPage: 71.65%

Kane: 61.84%

Will: 62.35%

Kendall: 64.32%

La Salle: 55.01%

Grundy: 54.00%

DeKalb: 53.19%

Ogle: 53.62%

Lee: 56.18%

Whiteside: 49.39%

Bureau: 53.11%

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 decreased to 17.4%. Currently, 14% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average decreased to 21.0%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 16.1%.

Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to a total of 406 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The West Suburban (DuPage and Kane counties) region’s positivity rate increased to 20.1%. Currently, 10% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity rate increased to 22.8%, and DuPage County’s increased to 19.0%.

Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 782 total COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The South Suburban (Will and Kankakee counties) region’s positivity rate decreased to 21.6%. Currently, 8% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable two out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 394 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 decreased to 21.5%.

Currently, 6% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate fell to 22.2%, Lee County’s rate decreased to 18.6%, and Whiteside County’s went up to 23.0%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable five out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 316 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 20.5%.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate increased to 22%. Currently, 9% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days. The region is up to a total of 580 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Chicago’s positivity rate fell to 15.4%. Currently, 8% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for one out of the past 10 days.

Suburban Cook County’s positivity rate fell to 16.3%. Currently, 8% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region.