Twenty-eight Illinois counties now at “high” community level of COVID-19

The number of Illinois counties at the level where masks are recommended in indoor public spaces has grown, according to data released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Twenty-eight Illinois counties are at a “high” community level of COVID-19, up eight from the prior week. Fifty-three are at a “medium” risk level, up six from the prior week.

As of Wednesday, 1,170 Illinoisans were in the hospital with COVID-19, up 65 from Tuesday and up 41 from the prior week.

Of the patients in the hospital, 115 were in intensive care units, down two from Tuesday and down seven from the prior week. Twenty percent of Illinois’ ICU beds were available, the same as the prior week.

There were 35 patients on ventilators, down four from Tuesday and up one from the prior week.

The Department of Public Health reported 4,864 new COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths on Thursday. The new cases bring the state total to 3,430,843, while the death toll is at 34,138.

The seven-day average for new cases on Thursday was 4,175, up 600 from the prior week. The seven-day average for daily deaths is 12, up one from the prior week.

The seven-day case rate per 100,000 people is 32.8, up 4.7 from the prior week.

Illinois vaccinators have administered 22,664,045 COVID-19 vaccines, including 4,609,751 booster doses. The seven-day average for doses administered is 10,628.