Illinois sees most new COVID-19 cases since December 2020, most hospitalizations since January

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 11,858 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 52 additional deaths Thursday.

It’s the most new cases in a day since December 1, 2020. The state is now averaging more than 8,000 new cases a day for the first time since December 16, 2020.

For Wednesday, the state administered 81,066 shots. Illinois also has administered a total of 432,668 doses to 5-11 year olds, an increase of 10,215 doses from Wednesday’s update. As a state, 24.21% of Illinois children 5-11 years old have received a first vaccine dose, and 14.96% have received two doses.

The state received the results of 191,311 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Thursday afternoon. The state’s positivity rate went up to 4.7%.

Illinois has seen 1,933,291 total cases of the virus, and 27,065 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 41,823,332 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Wednesday, Illinois had 3,725 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, the most since January 7. Of those, 772 were in intensive care units, and 391 were on ventilators. Statewide, only 8.7% of staffed ICU beds are available.

Vaccine update: As of Thursday, IDPH reported a total of 21,069,525 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 18,403,106 vaccines administered.

As of the time this story was published, 7,607,936 of the population of Illinois have been fully vaccinated, or 59.71%. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

State data shows 2,555,087 booster doses have been administered, an increase of 51,686 doses from Wednesday’s update. Illinois’ total population is now 20% boosted.

CDC numbers:

Among Illinois residents 5 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 8,046,140 (67.5%)

At Least 1 Dose: 9,011,205 (75.6%)

Among Illinois residents 12 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 7,875,521 (72.7%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,722,997 (80.5%)

Among Illinois residents 18 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 7,307,575 (74.2%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,093,418 (82.1%)

Among Illinois residents 65 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 1,772,430 (86.7%)

At Least 1 Dose: 1,941,120 (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: 61.97%

Suburban Cook: 65.85%

Lake: 63.34%

McHenry: 60.57%

DuPage: 69.63%

Kane: 60.25%

Will: 60.52%

Kendall: 62.26%

La Salle: 53.60%

Grundy: 52.56%

DeKalb: 52.06%

Ogle: 51.85%

Lee: 54.52%

Whiteside: 48.27%

Bureau: 51.68%

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 5.9%. Currently, 12% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average stayed flat at 8.0%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 5.1%.

Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to a total of 237 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The West Suburban (DuPage and Kane counties) region’s positivity rate decreased to 6.2%. Currently, 14% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity rate decreased to 6.9%, and DuPage County’s stayed flat at 5.9%.

Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 352 total COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The South Suburban (Will and Kankakee counties) region’s positivity rate decreased to 7.7%. Currently, 6% of ICU beds are available.

Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 225 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 stayed flat at 9.2%.

Currently, 8% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate fell to 6.6%, Lee County’s rate decreased to 8.3%, and Whiteside County’s went down to 6.3%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable one out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is up to 264 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 stayed flat at 7.8%.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate decreased to 5.7%. Currently, 9% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased for 10 out of the past 10 days. The region is up to a total of 378 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Chicago’s positivity rate stayed flat at 4.2%. Currently, 9% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days.

Suburban Cook County’s positivity rate stayed flat at 4.9%. Currently, 10% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations have increased 10 out of the past 10 days in this region.