New COVID-19 cases, new delta variant cases continue to rise in Illinois

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 958 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 10 additional deaths Wednesday, and a total of 13,013,705 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered.

For Tuesday, the state administered 25,715 shots.

The state received the results of 33,254 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday afternoon.

Illinois has seen 1,404,466 total cases of the virus, and 23,392 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 26,444,494 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Tuesday, Illinois had 572 COVID-19 patients in the hospital. Of those, 118 were in intensive care units, and 38 were on ventilators.

Illinois also now has 491 total confirmed cases of the more transmissible delta variant, an increase of 87 new cases since Monday, the largest delta increase since the state started making case numbers public.

Vaccine update: As of Wednesday, IDPH reported a total of 14,506,095 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 13,013,705 vaccines administered.

As of the time this story was published, 6,387,908 Illinoisans have been fully vaccinated, or 50.14% of the population. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

Among Illinois residents 12 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 6,039,596 (55.7%)

At Least 1 Dose: 7,720,300 (71.2%)

Among Illinois residents 18 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 5,716,354 (58%)

At Least 1 Dose: 7,236,508 (73.4%)

Among Illinois residents 65 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 1,530,852 (74.9%)

At Least 1 Dose: 1,855,525 (90.8%)

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

The state also had its weekly update of breakthrough hospitalizations and deaths. 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.

There have been 593 total breakthrough hospitalizations and 159 deaths. The deaths represent 2.30% of all COVID-19 deaths in the state since January 1, 2021.

In northern Illinois, here is the percentage of the population fully vaccinated by county:

Chicago: 51.03%

Suburban Cook: 54.21%

Lake: 51.18%

McHenry: 49.39%

DuPage: 58.69%

Kane: 49.09%

Will: 49.14%

Kendall: 50.63%

La Salle: 43.74%

Grundy: 41.98%

DeKalb: 42.86%

Ogle: 42.84%

Lee: 46.29%

Whiteside: 42.36%

Bureau: 41.65%

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 2.1%. Currently, 28% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average stayed flat at 3.7%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 1.6%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable four out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to a total of 22 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The West Suburban (DuPage and Kane counties) region’s positivity rate increased to 2.4%. Currently, 25% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity rate increased to 2.0%, and DuPage County’s stayed went up to 2.6%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable five out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 37 total COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The South Suburban (Will and Kankakee counties) region’s positivity rate stayed increased to 2.5%. Currently, 25% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable six out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 20 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 2.6%.

Currently, 18% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate increased to 1.6%, Lee County’s rate increased to 1.4%, and Whiteside County’s went up to 0.9%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable five out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 20 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 3.0%.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate increased to 1.7%. Currently, 32% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for one out of the past 10 days. The region is up to a total of 49 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Chicago’s positivity rate went up to 1.6%. Currently, 20% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for five out of the past 10 days.

Suburban Cook County’s positivity rate went up to 2.0%. Currently, 19% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable six out of the past 10 days in this region.