Rapid decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations in Illinois continues

The number of patients in Illinois hospitals with COVID-19 has decreased by 25% in just one week, according to new data from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

As of late Thursday, Illinois had 4,533 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, the fewest since Christmas Day. Of those, 800 were in intensive care units, and 460 were on ventilators.

IDPH reported 15,453 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 120 additional deaths Friday.

The state’s seven-day rolling average for new cases dropped to 17,687 new cases a day, the lowest average since December 29.

For Thursday, the state administered 37,652 shots.

The state received the results of 215,068 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Friday afternoon. The state’s positivity rate dropped to 9.4%

Illinois has seen 2,897,174 total cases of the virus, and 30,688 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 50,798,837 tests since the start of the pandemic.

Vaccine update: As of Friday, IDPH reported a total of 23,092,645 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 20,423,100 vaccines administered.

As of the time this story was published, 7,899,003 of the population of Illinois have been fully vaccinated, or 62.0%. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

Also, 3,831,220 people have received a booster dose, or 30.0% of the state’s population. Among 5-11 year olds, 35.6% have received at least one vaccine dose and 26.53% are fully vaccinated.

CDC numbers:

Among Illinois residents 5 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 8,357,618 (70.1%)

At Least 1 Dose: 9,532,295 (79.9%)

Among Illinois residents 12 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 8,051,601 (74.3%)

At Least 1 Dose: 9,113,732 (84.1%)

Among Illinois residents 18 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 7,453,528 (75.6%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,432,301 (85.6%)

Among Illinois residents 65 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 1,781,108 (87.2%)

At Least 1 Dose: 1,962,259 (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: 64.66%

Suburban Cook: 68.85%

Lake: 66.23%

McHenry: 62.83%

DuPage: 72.52%

Kane: 62.75%

Will: 63.39%

Kendall: 65.45%

La Salle: 54.94%

Grundy: 55.05%

DeKalb: 53.98%

Ogle: 54.19%

Lee: 56.41%

Whiteside: 49.73%

Bureau: 53.0%

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 20.8%. Currently, 17% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average increased to 37.1%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 13.2%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to a total of 295 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The West Suburban (DuPage and Kane counties) region’s positivity rate decreased to 20.7%. Currently, 17% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity rate stayed flat at 25.4%, and DuPage County’s decreased to 18.1%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable nine out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 569 total COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The South Suburban (Will and Kankakee counties) region’s positivity rate dropped to 14.4%. Currently, 12% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 241 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 18.1%.

Currently, 10% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate increased to 17.5%, Lee County’s rate decreased to 11.8%, and Whiteside County’s went down to 15.7%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 247 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 14.3%.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate decreased to 13.7%. Currently, 15% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for 10 out of the past 10 days. The region is down to a total of 409 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Chicago’s positivity rate fell to 10.3%. Currently, 11% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for 10 out of the past 10 days.

Suburban Cook County’s positivity rate fell to 12.4%. Currently, 13% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable 10 out of the past 10 days in this region.