Illinois averaging fewer than 1,500 new COVID-19 cases per day for first time since July

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,329 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 40 additional deaths Friday.

The state’s seven-day rolling average for new cases dropped to 1,495 new cases per day, the lowest average since July 27.

For Thursday, the state administered 11,793 shots.

The state received the results of 135,005 COVID-19 tests in the 24 hours leading up to Friday afternoon. The state’s positivity rate dropped to 1.4%

Illinois has seen 3,037,199 total cases of the virus, and 32,926 people have died. The state has conducted a total of 55,089,500 tests since the start of the pandemic.

As of late Thursday, Illinois had 843 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, the fewest since July 27. Of those, 153 were in intensive care units, the fewest since July 25, and 77 were on ventilators.

Vaccine update: As of Friday, IDPH reported a total of 23,895,945 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed statewide, with 21,157,960 vaccines administered.

As of the time this story was published, 8,136,287 of the population of Illinois have been fully vaccinated, or 63.86%. Illinois has a population of 12,741,080 people.

Also, 4,166,253 people have received a booster dose, or 32.69% of the state’s population. Among 5- to 11-year-olds, 39.59% have received at least one vaccine dose and 33.87% are fully vaccinated.

CDC numbers:

Among Illinois residents 5 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 8,564,428 (71.8%)

At Least 1 Dose: 9,638,628 (80.8%)

Among Illinois residents 12 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 8,177,454 (75.5%)

At Least 1 Dose: 9,180,501 (84.7%)

Among Illinois residents 18 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 7,553,351 (76.7%)

At Least 1 Dose: 8,483,631 (86.1%)

Among Illinois residents 65 and older:

Fully Vaccinated: 1,786,609 (87.4%)

At Least 1 Dose: 1,964,496 (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: 66.85%

Suburban Cook: 71.18%

Lake: 68.21%

McHenry: 64.48%

DuPage: 74.22%

Kane: 64.73%

Will: 65.33%

Kendall: 67.43%

La Salle: 57.43%

Grundy: 56.66%

DeKalb: 55.61%

Ogle: 55.96%

Lee: 57.66%

Whiteside: 50.96%

Bureau: 55.74%

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 2.9%. Currently, 27% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, McHenry County’s seven-day positivity rate average decreased to 3.9%. Lake County, which does about two-thirds of the testing in the region, is reporting a rolling average of 2.6%.

Hospitalizations have decreased or remained stable 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to a total of 62 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The West Suburban (DuPage and Kane counties) region’s positivity rate decreased to 2.6%. Currently, 27% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, Kane County’s seven-day positivity rate decreased to 2.7%, and DuPage County’s decreased to 2.6%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 91 total COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The South Suburban (Will and Kankakee counties) region’s positivity rate decreased to 2.4%. Currently, 23% 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 32 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 2.7%.

Currently, 19% of ICU beds are available.

Within this region, DeKalb County’s positivity rate fell to 2.3%, Lee County’s rate stayed flat at 1.0%, and Whiteside County’s went down to 2.7%.

Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable 10 out of the past 10 days in this region. The region is down to 56 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 2.0%.

Within this region, La Salle County’s seven-day positivity rate decreased to 1.6%. Currently, 26% 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 95 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Chicago’s positivity rate fell to 1.1%. Currently, 17% 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 1.5%. Currently, 18% of ICU beds are available. Hospitalizations decreased or remained stable 10 out of the past 10 days in this region.