Illinois COVID Update: IL reports 3,304 cases, 40 deaths

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Illinois Department of Public Health officials reported 3,304 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 40 related deaths Friday.

There have been 1,612,129 total COVID cases, including 24,783 deaths in the state since the pandemic began.

The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from Sept. 16-22 fell slightly (0.1%) from the day before, to 3.7%.

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Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported testing 150,245 specimens for a total of 31,192,770 since the pandemic began.

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As of Thursday night, 1,926 patients in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 474 patients were in the ICU and 252 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.

A total of 14,419,886 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of Thursday. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 19,371. On Thursday, 19,371 vaccines were administered.

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The CDC director has added frontline workers to the list of those eligible for booster shots, which also includes people 65 and older, nursing home residents and those 50 and above with chronic health care problems should get boosters 6 months after their first dose. The CDC said younger people with underlying health issues can decide for themselves.

"I think we are all confused about the process of how is eligible, what the process is going to be to get and what kind of checking to see if someone is eligible," said Dr. Elizabeth McNally, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

McNally fears the confusion will put a huge burden on the pharmacies who will likely be giving most of the boosters.

"I wish it was a bit more simple, that if they just said, if you want to get a booster, you can go get a booster after six months and get one," she said.

For now, boosters are only for people who got the Pfizer shot. So far, the CDC has not come out with any guidance on mixing shots.

The government is reviewing data on whether to allow boosters for Moderna & Johnson Johnson. Even without a booster, you are considered fully vaccinated. Doctors stress all three vaccines still provide very good protection against COVID.