Local News

State reports 54 counties are at an elevated level for COVID-19

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced on Friday, Dec. 30, the CDC is reporting 54 counties in the state are at an elevated level for COVID-19. Of those, five Illinois counties are at a high level, compared to 33 a week ago; while 49 counties are at medium level, compared to 55 last week. IDPH is reporting 15,904 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois since Dec. 23, and 47 deaths.

Cook and Will counties are at the medium level of infection. 

In counties at the medium level, persons who are elderly or immunocompromised (at risk of severe outcomes) are advised to wear a mask in indoor public places. They should also get up to date on COVID-19 vaccines or get their bivalent booster, if eligible.

IDPH is reporting a total of 3,969,832 cases, including 35,761 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois since the beginning of the pandemic.

As of Thursday night, 1,767 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 225 patients were in the ICU and 80 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. The preliminary seven-day statewide case rate is 125 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Illinoisans.

Access to tests and treatments can be found at the following test to treat site or by contacting your provider for treatment options, within five days of feeling ill.

Free or low cost COVID-19 testing locations are also available throughout the state, including in Chicago, and can be found on the IDPH website’s testing locator page.

The updated boosters are available at pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. The best way to locate a vaccine provider near you is to visit www.vaccines.gov and search for bivalent booster availability.

Data indicate that the risk of hospitalization and severe outcomes from COVID-19 is much higher for unvaccinated people than for those who are up to date on their vaccinations. All data are provisional and are subject to change. Additional information and COVID-19 data can be found at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19.html.

The agency also noted that as of the end this year, it will follow the lead of the CDC and shift from daily reporting of new COVID-19 cases and deaths to a weekly report. IDPH will report weekly data on Wednesday of each week for the previous week ending Sunday. IDPH will continue to report ICU bed availability and hospital admission data on a daily basis.

IDPH officials believe that weekly reporting will provide the public with a more accurate picture of COVID-19 trends across the state over time by tracking cases and deaths by the week they arise, rather than the date they are reported, which may be days or weeks later.

Correction: The headline for this story initially reported 88 counties at an elevated level of infection. That number was from last week’s IDPH report. The Chronicle regrets the error.

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