COVID-19: Northwest Illinois nearing ICU capacity

Northwest Illinois has only 20 of its 171 intensive care unit beds available, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

EMS Region 1 occupies the northwest corner of Illinois and comprises Jo Davies, Carroll, Whiteside, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone and DeKalb counties.

The IDPH released its weekly update of COVID-19-related information on Thursday.

Only Region 5 in southeastern Illinois has greater demand: It’s down to four available beds.

The IDPH report counts ICU beds at acute-care medical centers and at two children’s hospitals. Veteran Administration and other specialty hospitals are not included in the survey.

To be counted, the bed must be attended by medical care professionals. Neonatal and pediatric intensive care wards are also not counted.

Ventilator use

While ICU beds are in short supply, ventilators are available. Region 1 is using 90 of its 343 ventilators. Statewide, 234 ventilators are in use. There are 5,539 total.

Transmission rates

Every Illinois county is now considered to have a high transmission rate for COVID-19, IDPH says.

That means the case rate in each county is above 100 for every 100,000 people.

Ogle County’s transmission rate was at 189.56, Whiteside was at 117.81, Lee was at 105.58 and Carroll was at 104.86.

Data from four lightly populated counties — Calhoun, Pope, Putnam and Stark — was suppressed, but all still showed red on the most recent transmission map.

COVID-19 cases

In a snapshot look at the previous seven-day period, Ogle reported 96 cases of the coronavirus, while Whiteside had 65, Lee 36 and Carroll 15.

Test positivity rates

Ogle County had a positivity rate of 10.7%, Whiteside was at 4.31%, Carroll was at 4.0% and Lee was at 3.6%.

Deaths

Lee County had one reported COVID-19 related death during the period between Aug. 8 and Aug. 14. The other three counties in the Sauk Valley did not report a COVID-19 death.

Vaccination rates

The Sauk Valley region continues to lag behind state vaccination rates. According to the IDPH release on Friday, 60% of the state’s adults are now fully vaccinated.

Lee County has 16,768 fully vaccinated persons, which is 49.0% of the population. Whiteside is next at 24,740 for 44.48%

Ogle County has 2,3105 fully vaccinated persons for 45.37% of cases. Carroll County is at 5,605 vaccinated persons for 39.16%

Shield testing

Two area locations offer the University of Illinois Shield saliva test. The testing sites are open regardless of an individual’s symptoms and appointment is not required.

Tests are offered from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon and from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday at Sterling High School.