Illinois’ coronavirus infection rate remained at a six-week low Sunday as 35% of the state’s population is now fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
State health officials reported 1,741 new coronavirus cases and an additional 30 virus-related deaths. That brings the state’s pandemic totals to 1,354,967 cases and 22,223 deaths.
The Chicago area accounted for 11 of Sunday’s fatalities, which included two Cook County men in their 50s.
Sunday’s cases were found among the 65,930 tests processed by the Illinois Department of Public Health in the last 24 hours. That kept the seven-day positivity rate at 2.9% for the second consecutive day — the lowest it’s been since March 26.
While the number of statewide coronavirus hospitalizations has remained relatively steady over the last month, the number of patients in the intensive care units and on ventilators has slightly increased.
As of Saturday night, 1,870 beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients, with 452 of those patients in intensive care units and 232 on ventilators, officials said. In comparison, there were 1,831 people hospitalized with COVID-19 April 9. Of those, 381 patients were in the ICU and 178 were on ventilators, officials said at the time.
An additional 80,843 inoculations took place Saturday, raising Illinois’ seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily to 73,622. That’s down from about a month ago, when the state was averaging 118,336 shots per day from April 2-8.
With Gov. J.B. Pritzker planning to fully reopen the state next month, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot expecting to lift most COVID-19 restrictions by July 4, state health officials have repeatedly stressed the importance of getting vaccinated for people who haven’t already done so.
Though the demand for vaccines has declined after the initial rush for the shots, Illinois doled out 107,688 vaccinations Friday — the most inoculations in a single day since April 29.
In total, 9,908,489 vaccines have been injected into the arms of Illinois residents since mid-December. Of that, almost 4.5 million people in Illinois — or 35% of the state’s population — are fully vaccinated, meaning two weeks removed from their final dose, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s website.
All Illinois and Chicago residents 16 or older are eligible for the vaccine, which remains free and readily available on a walk-up basis at government-run mass vaccination sites, as well as many Walgreens, Walmart and CVS pharmacies.
For help finding an appointment in Chicago, visit zocdoc.com or call (312) 746-4835.
For suburban Cook County sites, visit vaccine.cookcountyil.gov or call (833) 308-1988.
To find providers elsewhere, visit coronavirus.illinois.gov or call (833) 621-1284.
