New Illinois COVID cases at lowest weekly number since early April

The Illinois Department of Public Health, IDPH, on Friday, Sept. 30, reported that 493,000 Illinoisans had received a dose of the new, bivalent COVID-19 vaccines since they were approved for use in early September, including 137,000 doses in the previous week. 

IDPH noted that daily vaccination numbers were at the highest level seen since early February, during the major surge in illnesses caused by the Omicron variant. 

The announcement came as the CDC released data showing that 20 counties in Illinois were rated at medium community level for COVID-19.

Union, Johnson, Alexander, Pulaski, Massac and Hardin counties were among those 20 counties.

As of Friday, Jackson, Williamson and Pope counties were rated at a low community level.

IDPH reported that for the first time since the middle of May, there were no Illinois counties listed at high community level. 

As of Friday, IDPH was reporting 10,945 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois, including 64 deaths since Sept. 23. That was the lowest number of weekly cases since April 8.

“It is encouraging to see the large number of Illinoisans who are taking advantage of the added protection offered by the new bivalent boosters,” IDPH director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a news release. 

“And while the case rate has been declining, this is not the time for anyone to let their guard down. As we head into fall and face a potential surge in new cases, I urge everyone who is eligible to contact their healthcare provider or local pharmacy to get the updated booster AND their flu shot. 

“These vaccines are especially important for those most vulnerable to severe illness, such as those individuals over 50, those with underlying medical conditions, and those who are immunocompromised.”

IDPH reported that over the previous week, an average of more than 19,000 doses of the new bivalent vaccines had been administered across the state each day. That was more than double the daily average for all vaccinations for most of the summer. 

Among the total eligible population, those 12 and older, about 4.4 percent had received the new booster. The rate was higher among those 65 and older, at 10 percent of the Illinois population.

Of Illinois’ total population, more than 77 percent had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, 70 percent of Illinois’ total population was fully vaccinated and more than 55 percent of the vaccinated population had received an initial booster, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All data are provisional and are subject to change. 

The Gazette-Democrat

112 Lafayette St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
Office Number: (618) 833-2158
Email: news@annanews.com

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