Illinois reports 1,246 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest daily caseload since July

State health officials on Monday reported the number of new COVID-19 cases and tests dropped to levels that haven’t been seen since last summer.

Officials announced 1,246 new and probable cases of COVID-19, marking the smallest daily caseload reported since 1,076 cases were reported on July 28. The number of tests also dropped to 37,361, the lowest figure recorded since 35,930 new tests were announced on Sept. 14, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Officials also announced 34 virus-related deaths.

The statewide seven-day positivity rate remained below 3% for an eighth straight day.

Officials said 58,748 vaccine doses were administered Sunday, a massive jump from the 13,433 given a day earlier. So far, more than 2.2 million vaccine doses have been administered across the state, with 445,200 allocated for long-term care facilities.

Illinois saw a drop in vaccine distribution last week due to heavy snowfall and delayed vaccine shipments from the federal government. Over the past week, officials said the state averaged 55,499 doses administered each day — down more than 17% from a week earlier.

Coronavirus hospitalizations increased slightly. As of Sunday, 1,504 beds were occupied statewide by coronavirus patients, with 377 of those patients in intensive care units and 169 on ventilators, officials said.

Since March, nearly 1.2 million people in Illinois have been diagnosed with the virus and more than 20,000 have died.

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