COVID-19 cases continue to rise

The Department of Public Health reported 14,049 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 last week, a 30 percent jump from the prior week. Forty-five more Illinoisans died.

The new cases bring the state total to 3,094,485 cases, while the death toll increased to 33,510.

The seven-day average for new cases on Thursday was 2,007, up 466 from the prior week. The seven-day average for daily deaths is six, down four from the prior week.

The seven-day rolling average case rate per 100,000 people is 15.8, up 3.7 from the prior week.

As of Thursday, 464 Illinoisans were in the hospital with COVID-19, down 32 from Wednesday and down 38 from the prior week.

Of the patients in the hospital, 70 were in intensive care units, up one from Wednesday and up eight from the prior week. Twenty-one percent of Illinois’ ICU beds were available.

There were 32 patients on ventilators, down 15 from Wednesday and up eight from the prior week.

About 81.3 percent of eligible Illinoisans ages 5 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 72.8 percent are fully vaccinated.

Illinois vaccinators have administered 26,262,345 COVID-19 vaccines, including 4,337,947 booster doses. The seven-day average for doses administered is 19,799.

Sixty percent of total doses administered went to white Illinoisans, while 15.6 went to Latinx residents, 11.2 percent to Black residents and 7.2 to Asian residents. About 3.1 percent went to those identified as “other races” while 2.3 percent are “unknown.”