There are now 63 counties at elevated levels of COVID-19, including 12 at the high level, as COVID-19 cases begin to grow around the state. Only 46 counties were at an elevated level last week.
Illinois Department of Public Health spokesman Mike Claffey says the increase was expected this time of year.
Claffey says, “We are seeing an increase in cases of COVID-19 and the flu around the state of Illinois. This has been anticipated as we get into the colder weather and the holiday season. We are very concerned about this, especially with young children.”
Statewide, 20,495 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois have been reported in the week ending Thursday. There were 57 new deaths reported.
As of Thursday night, 1,509 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 161 patients were in the ICU and 45 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
Health officials say vaccination is the key to ending the pandemic. Claffey says it’s not too late to get your flu shot and latest COVID-19 booster.
Claffey says, “The flu vaccines that are out this year are designed to address the specific flu variants we’re seeing this season, and that’s the same with the new COVID-19 bivalent vaccine. If you have not gotten that bivalent booster, you should really do so now.”
Another respiratory illness, RSV, still remains a concern among kids with only about 10 percent of pediatric ICU beds available across the state.
