The Centers for Disease Control data tracker has raised the COVID-19 hospitalization levels for Marion and Washington Counties to high. The weekly data shows 14 hospitalizations from COVID-19. Jefferson, Wayne, and Clay Counties are currently all at the medium level of hospitalizations. Eight hospitalizations have been reported in Jefferson and Wayne Counties and six in Clay County. Clinton, Fayette, and Effingham County all remain at the low level for hospitalizations.
Marion County Health Department Administrator Melissa Mallow says two congregate care facilities remain on outbreak status. Both are in Centralia. One that has been on outbreak status for a number of weeks now has a total of 53 employees and 27 residents who have had COVID-19. That includes nine new employees and five residences in the past week. There have been no hospitalizations as a result of the outbreak.
The other Centralia facility has one staff and one resident with COVID-19. The resident has been hospitalized.
Mallow says a third Centralia facility on outbreak dropped from the list this week.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reports more than half the counties in Illinois are at an elevated level for COVID-19 hospitalizations, but the state’s overall respiratory illness level has decreased in recent weeks and is currently listed as low. However, IDPH says it’s important to remember that respiratory virus season can last into the spring and additional increases in illness rates are possible.
IDPH has confirmed this week that there was a third pediatric death due to influenza, all with December onsets. They note this is a sobering reminder of the potential severity of influenza in children and the importance of vaccination.
