Illinois COVID-19 Update: IL reports 2,931 new coronavirus cases, 13 deaths
Chicago won't join state, collar counties in expanding vaccine eligibility Monday
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Illinois public health officials reported 2,931 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 13 related deaths Tuesday.
There have been 1,261,667 total cases, including 21,395 deaths in the state.
All Chicagoans 16 and older will be vaccine eligible on April 19, but matching that White House timeline still puts the city a week behind much of the rest of Illinois.
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"We're seeing cases in younger people, and so this has been... we absolutely, we follow the data. We follow the science, and it's about wanting to make shifts," said Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicago Dept. of Public Health.
The announcement came after a visit from Vice President Kamala Harris and following the White House's announcement that April 19 will be when all U.S. adults will be vaccine eligible, 12 days earlier than the original May 1 target date.
"We do want to be in line with the president's objective, but understanding that we need more vaccine," Lightfoot said.
As of now, the city will not join the state - including suburban Cook and nearly all the collar counties - in fully expanding Monday ahead of the White House's timeline.
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"It is going to be a lift," said Dr. Kiran Joshi, Cook County Dept. of Public Health. "We're adding about 1.4 million people to that pool of eligible individuals, but that said, we have been promised a steadily-increasing supply of vaccine."
In particular, Johnson & Johnson doses which Chicago is relying on for new vaccination sites, including one at Chicago State University.
The J&J vaccine will also support a new suburban site opening in the morning at Elgin's Eastside Recreation Center, which will target Latinx residents.
"It's very important that we go into our communities, our diverse communities, to make sure that we do a deep dive into those communities," said Corinne Pierog, Kane County Board Chair.
Chicago officials said they've been talking with the state about pushing additional vaccine to the Chicago area, citing greater demand compared to some other downstate counties, but it's unclear if the state will act.
It comes as the CDC announced that Illinois would be getting $124 million in funding to expand vaccination programs, with $33 million going to Chicago and $90 million going to the rest of the state.
About 75% of the funds will go toward underserved communities and those disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
"With this new funding from the Biden/Harris administration, Illinois will move quickly to further expand our aggressive efforts to reach those most vulnerable to COVID-19," said Governor JB Pritzker. "With mass vaccination sites across the state, rural vaccination teams reaching those with less access to healthcare, and partnerships with trusted providers in underserved communities, we have built the infrastructure to end this pandemic as quickly as possible, and these new resources will only help us reach that day even sooner. I'm grateful to President Biden and his administration for making these resources available and for their steadfast partnership since taking office."
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As of Monday night, 1,648 patients in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 357 patients were in the ICU and 143 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported testing 51,625 specimens for a total of 20,737,823 since the pandemic began.
The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from March 30-April 5 is 4.5%.
A total of 8,061,075 doses of vaccine have been delivered to providers in Illinois, including Chicago, including doses allocated to federal government partners for long-term care facilities.
A total of 6,413,258 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of Sunday night. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 106,976 doses. There were 95,188 doses reported administered in Illinois Monday.
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Illinois has administered doses to 70% of residents 65 and older, reaching the threshold needed to move into the Bridge Phase of reopening. However, IDPH said rising hospitalization rates will prevent Illinois from moving into the Bridge Phase. IDPH epidemiologists will continue to focus on the most recent 10 days to monitor any acute trends that prevent the state from reaching the Bridge Phase.
The deaths reported Monday include:
-Cook County: 2 males 40s, 1 male 70s
-Knox County: 1 female 80s
-Lake County: 1 male 50s
-Livingston County: 1 female 90s
-Massac County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s
-Rock Island County: 1 male 50s
-Shelby County: 1 female 60s
-Union County: 1 male 60s
-Will County: 1 male 40s
-Winnebago County: 1 male 90s
