COVID-19 hospitalizations surpass 1,000

The number of Illinoisans hospitalized with COVID-19 has surpassed 1,000 for the first time in nearly three months.

As of Monday, 1,092 Illinoisans were in the hospital with COVID-19, up 96 from Sunday and up 246 from the prior week. It’s the first time the number has hit four digits since 1,033 were reported on Feb. 25.

Of the patients in the hospital, 89 were in intensive care units, up three from Sunday and up one from the prior week. Twenty percent of Illinois’ ICU beds were available, down 3 percentage points from the prior week.

There were 33 patients on ventilators, up four from Sunday and up 12 from the prior week.

Twenty-three counties are rated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as having a “medium” risk of community spread.

The Chicago Department of Public Health said Tuesday that Cook County could move into the “high” level soon based on case counts and regional hospital impact.

However, the agency said the city would not immediately reinstate an indoor mask mandate as severe outcomes in Chicago remain relatively rare and the burden of COVID-19 in local hospitals remains low.

“Cases are still going up in Chicago, but at this point our city’s hospital and healthcare settings are far from being overwhelmed, mostly thanks to vaccines and boosters,” Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said in a statement. “Obviously, I’m concerned that Cook County is getting closer to a high COVID-19 level and I strongly urge everyone to take this seriously and protect yourself and others.”

IDPH reported 5,327 new COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths on Tuesday. The new cases bring the state total to 3,231,524. The death toll is 33,724.

The seven-day average for new cases on Tuesday was 6,063, up 724 from the prior week. The seven-day average for daily deaths is six, down two from the prior week.

The seven-day case rate per 100,000 people is 47.6, up 5.7 from the prior week.

About 81.5 percent of eligible Illinoisans ages 5 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 73.4 percent are fully vaccinated.

Illinois vaccinators have administered 22,157,432 COVID-19 vaccines, including 4,482,272 booster doses. The seven-day average for doses administered is 14,325.