COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations continue decline

As of Wednesday, 1,183 Illinoisans were in the hospital with COVID-19, down 49 from Tuesday and down 428 from the prior week.

Of the patients in the hospital, 246 were in intensive care units, down four from Tuesday and down 52 from the prior week. There were 118 patients on ventilators, the same as Tuesday and down 28 from the prior week.

IDPH reported 1,979 new COVID-19 cases and 63 new deaths on Thursday.

The new cases bring the state total to 3,024,663, while the death toll increased to 32,580.

The seven-day average for new cases on Thursday was 2,020, down 1,269 from the prior week. The seven-day average for daily deaths is 47, down 18 from the prior week.

The seven-day statewide positivity rate for cases as a percent of total tests is 2 percent. The seven-day statewide test positivity using the number of COVID-19 positive tests over total tests is 2.5 percent.

About 80.6 percent of eligible Illinoisans ages 5 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 71.5 percent are fully vaccinated.

Illinois vaccinators have administered 21,057,410 COVID-19 vaccines, per state data, including 4,127,704 booster doses. The seven-day average of doses administered is 17,450.