Illinois reports most new coronavirus cases since Feb. 5; confirmed variant cases jump to 351

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,526 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 25 additional deaths Thursday, and a total of 5,918,422 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered.

The 3,526 new cases are the most in a day since February 5. The state reported administering 116,551 shots on Wednesday.

The seven-day rolling average of Illinois’ positivity rate increased from 3.3% to 3.5%. The state received the results of 96,177 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Thursday afternoon.

Illinois has seen 1,248,111 total cases of the virus, and 21,326 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 20,409,227 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Wednesday, Illinois had 1,411 COVID-19 patients in the hospital. Of those, 304 were in intensive care units, and 121 were on ventilators.

Variant cases increase: The state is also up to 351 confirmed variant virus cases, an increase of 84 from Tuesday. There are 276 confirmed cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, commonly called the United Kingdom variant; 39 cases of the B.1.427/429 variant, commonly called the California variant; 33 cases of the P.1 variant, commonly called the Brazilian variant; and three confirmed cases of the B.1.351 variant, commonly called the South African variant.

Vaccine update: As of Thursday, IDPH reported a total of 7,544,135 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 5,918,422 vaccines administered.

As of the time this story was published, 2,204,598 of the population of Illinois have been fully vaccinated, or 17.30%. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

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: 14.63%

Suburban Cook: 17.46%

Lake: 14.69%

McHenry: 14.39%

DuPage: 18.20%

Kane: 15.01%

Will: 14.56%

Kendall: 16.53%

La Salle: 14.73%

Grundy: 13.53%

DeKalb: 12.80%

Ogle: 14.80%

Lee: 14.22%

Whiteside: 15.40%

Bureau: 15.88%

Bridge update: According to Gov. JB Pritzker’s plan announced March 18, the state needs 70% of Illinois residents ages 65 and older to have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before it can advance to the state’s “bridge plan” that will open up capacity limits on all businesses. The state’s bridge plan is on pause as of Thursday, March 31 because of a continued rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases.

As of Thursday, 70.61% of those 65 and older had received one dose of the vaccine, according to the state’s dashboard.

Also, according to the state’s dashboard, 37.64% of Illinois residents 16 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Regional update: Currently, all 11 of the state’s health regions are in Phase 4 of the state’s reopening plan.

The North Suburban region (McHenry and Lake counties) has seen 68 consecutive days below 8% for its COVID-19 test positivity rate. The region’s positivity rate increased to 4.2%. Currently, 38% of ICU beds are available.

The region has never dropped below the 20% threshold for ICU bed availability since tracking began.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average increased to 6.5%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 3.6%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable for seven out of the past 10 days in this region.

The West Suburban region (DuPage and Kane counties) has seen a 71 consecutive days below 8%. The region’s positivity rate increased slightly to 5.6%. Currently, 33% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity average increased to 5.5% and DuPage County’s increased to 5.7%.

Hospitalizations have increased for six out of the past 10 days in this region.

The South Suburban region (Will and Kankakee counties) has seen 73 consecutive days below 8%. The region’s positivity rate increased to 4.3%. Currently, 31% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations have increased for nine out of the past 10 days in this region.

The North region (Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties) has maintained a positivity rate below 8% for 76 days. The region’s positivity rate increased to 4.4%. Currently, 24% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate increased to 4.1%, Lee County’s rate decreased to 1.3%, and Whiteside County’s stayed flat at 7.0%.

Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region.

The North-Central region (Bureau, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Kendall, Knox, La Salle, Livingston, Marshall, McDonough, McLean, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren and Woodford counties) has seen 76 days below 8%. The region’s positivity rate increased to 5.1%.

Currently, 22% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased for nine out of the past 10 days.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate increased to 2.6%.

Chicago has seen 71 consecutive days below 8%. The region’s positivity rate increased to 4.6%.

Currently, 23% of ICU beds are available.

Suburban Cook County has seen 71 days below 8%. The region’s positivity rate increased to 5.0%.

Currently, 21% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region.

Regional data from the IDPH remains on a three-day lag.

To see how other regions across the state are doing, see the full IDPH dashboard here.

Newly reported deaths include:

• Cook County: 1 female 40s, 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s, 2 females 90s, 1 male 90s

• DuPage County: 2 females 70s

• La Salle County: 1 male 90s

• Lee County: 1 female 70s

• Macon County: 1 male 60s

• Madison County: 1 male 30s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s

• McLean County: 1 male 80s

• St. Clair County: 1 female 60s, 1 female 70s

• Tazewell County: 1 male 90s

• Warren County: 1 female 50s

• Will County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s

• Winnebago County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s