Illinois COVID cases: IL reports 18,942 new cases, highest since pandemic began, and 78 deaths

Thursday, December 23, 2021
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Illinois public health officials reported 18,942 new COVID-19 cases Thursday and 78 related deaths.

It is the highest number of cases reported in a single day since the pandemic began, surpassing the 17,608 cases reported on November 5, 2020.
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There have been 2,021,302 total COVID cases, including 27,435 deaths in the state since the pandemic began.

The seven-day statewide test positivity rate is 8.6%.

SEE ALSO: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announces COVID vaccine proof requirement

Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported testing 223,281 new specimens for a total of 43,209,451 since the pandemic began.

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As of Wednesday night, 4,271 patients in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 867 patients were in the ICU and 485 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.

Dr. Fauci speaks one-on-one with ABC7's Sarah Schulte


Dr. Fauci speaks one-on-one with ABC7's Sarah Schulte


A total of 18,853,953 vaccine doses have been administered in Illinois as of Wednesday, and 60.16% of the state's population is fully vaccinated. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 65,827.
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