Forty-two 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 dropped for the second consecutive week, according to data released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Forty-two counties are now at a “high” community level of COVID-19, down 17 from last week. Forty-eight counties are at a “medium” level.

The decline comes as the federal agency announced new COVID-19 guidelines Thursday, which state that those exposed to the virus, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask for 10 days and get tested after five days, rather than quarantining at home.

“We’re in a stronger place today as a nation, with more tools—like vaccination, boosters, and treatments—to protect ourselves, and our communities, from severe illness from COVID-19,” Greta Massetti, a CDC epidemiologist, said in a statement.

As of Wednesday, 1,506 Illinoisans were in the hospital with COVID-19, up 29 from Tuesday and up 90 from the prior week.

Of the patients in the hospital, 166 were in intensive care units, down 22 from Tuesday and up 31 from the prior week. Nineteen percent of Illinois’ ICU beds were available, up 1 percentage point from the prior week.

There were 82 patients on ventilators, up 25 from Tuesday and up 26 from the prior week.

IDPH reported 5,727 new COVID-19 cases and 15 deaths on Thursday.

The new cases bring the state total to 3,617,142, while the death toll is at 34,513.

The seven-day average for new cases on Thursday was 4,141, down 204 from the prior week. The seven-day average for daily deaths is 14, up five from the prior week.

The seven-day case rate per 100,000 people is 32.5, down 1.6 from the prior week.

Illinois vaccinators have administered 23,104,911 COVID-19 vaccines, including 4,712,188 booster doses. The seven-day average for doses administered is 9,026.