Health & Fitness
IL COVID-19 Hospitalizations Surging Ahead Of Holidays: IDPH
A total of 44 counties are at elevated risk levels and 5 are at high risk after 1,039 new hospitalizations were reported over the past week.
ILLINOIS — With the holidays fast approaching, Illinois state health officials are warning residents of an increase in respiratory viruses as 44 counties across the state are at elevated risk levels for COVID-19 hospitalizations with more than 1,000 new admissions being reported across Illinois the past week.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said on Friday that in addition to the 44 counties that are at elevated hospitalizations for COVID-19, another 39 are at medium risk levels and five are at high hospitalizations, according to data from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.
Data also show that broad acute respiratory hospitalizations are increasing across Illinois including COVID-19, flu, and RSV, health officials said. IDPH officials are especially concerned about pediatric ICU (PICU) capacity which is limited in many areas of the state.
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The increase in COVID-related hospitalizations showed an increase of 20 percent from the previous week. In total, 1,039 people across Illinois have been hospitalized with the virus, data shows.
In response, the state health department unveiled a new weekly Infectious Respiratory Surveillance Dashboard that went live Friday afternoon. State officials said that the weekly report will provide residents access to the latest data on hospital visits, seasonal trends, lab test positivity, and demographic data. The dashboard will be updated at 3 p.m. each Friday.
Find out what's happening in Across Illinoisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“As we anticipated, we are seeing an increase in respiratory viruses – including COVID-19, flu, and RSV — both in Illinois and across the nation,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a news release. “IDPH is closely working with our health partners to educate the public, monitor our hospital capacity, and develop effective mitigation strategies as we experience this surge.
He added: “During this critical period with hospitalizations rising, I encourage all of our residents to use the tools available to keep yourself and your families healthy and protected.”
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