COVID-19 hospitalizations continue decline, cases plateau

COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to decline in Illinois, though recent data from the state’s Department of Public Health show that cases have started to plateau following steady decreases.

As of Tuesday, 598 Illinoisans were in the hospital with COVID-19, up 15 from Monday and down 101 from the prior week.

Of the patients in the hospital, 94 were in intensive care units, the same as Monday and down 24 from the prior week. There were 41 patients on ventilators, down six from Monday and down 18 from the prior week.

IDPH reported 1,031 new COVID-19 cases and 25 deaths on Wednesday.

The new cases bring the state total to 3,050,647 and the death toll to 33,164.

The seven-day average for new cases on Wednesday was 1,165, up 52 from the prior week. The seven-day average for daily deaths is 22, down one from the prior week.

The seven-day statewide positivity rate for cases as a percent of total tests is 1.3 percent. The seven-day statewide test positivity using the number of COVID-19 positive tests over total tests is 1.4 percent.

Eighty-one percent of eligible Illinoisans ages 5 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 72.1 percent are fully vaccinated.

Illinois vaccinators have administered 21,257,672 COVID-19 vaccines, including 4,219,080 booster doses. The seven-day average for doses administered is 8,511.