Illinois COVID Update: IL reports 2,601 cases, 43 deaths

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Illinois public health officials reported 2,601 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 43 related deaths Thursday.

There have been 1,692,875 total COVID cases, including 25,749 deaths in the state since the pandemic began.

The seven-day statewide test positivity rate from Oct. 21-27 is 2.2%.

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Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported testing 138,167 specimens for a total of 35,138,061 since the pandemic began.

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As of Wednesday night, 1,228 patients in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 289 patients were in the ICU and 139 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.

A total of 15,480,626 vaccine doses have been administered in Illinois as of Wednesday, and 56.8% of the state's population is fully vaccinated. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 46,088.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday vaccines for kids will be shipped to pharmacies and doctors' offices in Illinois after the FDA approves them. He encouraged parents to call their kids' pediatricians to ensure their offices are set receive doses.

The governor announced 700 pediatrician offices are already enrolled with IDPH to give COVID vaccines to children aged 5 to 11 when they become available. The state is also working with schools and park districts that may consider doing vaccination clinics for this younger age group.