COVID-19 cases in Illinois kids rising back to early May levels, still well off November peak

The Illinois Department of Public Health’s weekly update of school-age COVID-19 metrics shows rising cases across the board in 5- to 11-year-olds, 12- to 17-year-olds and 18- to 22-year-olds.

Among 5- to 11-year-olds, who are not currently eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, 959 COVID-19 cases were reported for the week ending July 24, matching the level last seen when schools were still mostly in session, the week ending May 8. It is a 788% increase in new cases from one month earlier.

While cases are not near the November peak of 3,541 for the 5- to 11-year-old group, cases are rising as school boards across the state decide and debate mask policies before most schools begin in August.

Illinois Department of Public Health spokesperson Melaney Arnold said the state does not have hospitalization broken down by age group.

“We currently don’t have hospitalization data broken down 5- to 11-years-old. We are looking at the ability to provide hospitalization data by age group,” Arnold said.

The IDPH also reported 2,348 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and eight additional deaths Friday, and a total of 13,211,304 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered.

For Thursday, the state administered 24,133 shots.

The state received the results of 54,563 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Friday afternoon. The state’s positivity rate remained 4%.

Illinois has seen 1,419,611 total cases of the virus, and 23,440 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 26,823,562 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Thursday, Illinois had 903 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, the most since June 2. Of those, 167 were in intensive care units, and 62 were on ventilators.

Vaccine update: As of Friday, the IDPH reported that a total of 14,844,245 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 13,211,304 vaccines administered.

As of the time this story was published, 6,469,974 Illinoisans have been fully vaccinated, or 50.78% of the population. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

Among Illinois residents 12 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 6,109,394 (56.4%)

At Least 1 Dose: 7,828,248 (72.2%)

Among Illinois residents 18 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 5,772,866 (58.6%)

At Least 1 Dose: 7,320,908 (74.3%)

Among Illinois residents 65 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 1,538,224 (75.3%)

At Least 1 Dose: 1,865,579 (91.3%)

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: 51.70%

Suburban Cook: 54.86%

Lake: 51.78%

McHenry: 50.04%

DuPage: 59.33%

Kane: 49.87%

Will: 49.78%

Kendall: 51.31%

La Salle: 44.42%

Grundy: 42.48%

DeKalb: 43.38%

Ogle: 43.38%

Lee: 46.70%

Whiteside: 42.73%

Bureau: 42.19%

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 3.6%. Currently, 34% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average increased to 5.0%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 3.0%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable three out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to a total of 35 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The West Suburban (DuPage and Kane counties) region’s positivity rate increased to 4.2%. Currently, 27% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity rate increased to 4.4%, and DuPage County’s increased to 4.1%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable one out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 63 total COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The South Suburban (Will and Kankakee counties) region’s positivity rate increased to 4.2%. Currently, 28% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable three out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 30 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 4.2%.

Currently, 17% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate fell to 3.6%, Lee County’s rate increased to 1.8%, and Whiteside County’s went up to 1.8%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable three out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 29 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 4.6%.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate decreased to XX%. Currently, 28% 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 68 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Chicago’s positivity rate increased to 2.9%. Currently, 20% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable for one out of the past 10 days.

Suburban Cook County’s positivity rate increased to 31%. Currently, 23% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region.