COVID-19 hospitalizations continue decline

As of Wednesday, 715 Illinoisans were in the hospital with COVID-19, up 16 from Tuesday and down 166 from the prior week.

Of the patients in the hospital on Wednesday, 135 were in intensive care units, up 17 from Tuesday and down 27 from the prior week. There were 60 patients on ventilators, up one from Tuesday and down 22 from the prior week.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,398 new COVID-19 cases and 42 deaths on Thursday.

The new cases bring the state total to 3,043,893, while the death toll increased to 33,052.

The seven-day average for new cases on Thursday was 1,146, down 455 from the prior week. The seven-day average for daily deaths is 24, down 20 from the prior week.

The seven-day statewide positivity rate for cases as a percent of total tests is 1.2 percent. The seven-day statewide test positivity using the number of COVID-19 positive tests over total tests is 1.3 percent.

Eighty-one percent of eligible Illinoisans ages 5 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 72 percent are fully vaccinated.

Illinois vaccinators have administered 21,208,108 COVID-19 vaccines, per state data, including 4,198,169 booster doses. The seven-day average of doses administered is 9,897.