All of South Central Illinois is currently listed in the low category for COVID-19 hospitalizations. However, statewide the number of hospitalizations is growing and more than half of the counties in Illinois are now at the high or medium level of hospitalizations. The Illinois Department of Public Health is also reporting an overall increase in respiratory illness, including flu and RSV in addition to COVID.
Flu activity is now surging to match the pre-COVID-19 2019-20 season while RSV activity overall appears to have stabilized though a slight increase in RSV admissions in infants was noted in the past week. IDPH is also confirming two pediatric deaths due to influenza and is investigating a third potential death.
In Marion County, five new hospitalizations have been reported in the last reporting week and three congregate care facilities are on outbreak status. One Centralia facility now has 59 positive cases, 40 among staff and 19 in residents. A second Centralia facility has three cases, two staff, and one resident. There is one Salem facility on outbreak status. It has 16 positive cases, including two staff and 14 residents.
Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Sameer Vohra is encouraging all Illinoisans, especially those most vulnerable to serious illness, to stay informed about respiratory illnesses in their areas and use all the tools available to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. Those tools include washing your hands, covering your coughs, and sneezes, improving indoor air ventilation, and wearing a mask in crowded areas. And Vohra notes it is not too late to get vaccinated for all the shots for which you are eligible. Receiving immunizations for COVID-19, flu, RSV as well as pneumonia helps prevent serious illness and hospitalization.
