IL Hopes To Receive 400K Coronavirus Vaccine Doses Within Weeks

ILLINOIS — State health officials say they are getting ready to distribute the coronavirus vaccine across Illinois as soon as it becomes available — hopefully in a matter of weeks. Illinois Department of Public Health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said she anticipates receiving about 400,000 doses of the vaccine within 48 hours of its approval by the Food and Drug Administration.

According to the drug company Pfizer, which submitted an emergency use application for its vaccine last week, that should happen by mid-December.

But health officials are still working out how to distribute the vaccine as quickly as possible to the state's 12.7 million residents, starting with those most vulnerable to the virus. While Pfizer was the first drug company to apply for FDA approval, its vaccine requires special refrigeration that is not widely available. Ezike said the state has ordered 20 deep freezers to keep the vaccine at an ultra-cold minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit — colder than Antarctica.

The vaccine can't come soon enough. State health officials on Wednesday reported 11,378 new cases of the coronavirus and 155 more deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. That breaks a two-day run of fewer than 10,000 new daily cases. The statewide totals now stand at 685,467 infections, 11,832 confirmed deaths and 491 probable deaths.

The latest deaths include:

• Adams County: 2 males 80s
• Boone County: 2 males 70s, 1 female 80s
• Bureau County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
• Champaign County: 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
• Clay County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 70s
• Clinton County: 2 females 80s, 1 male 80s
• Cook County: 2 males 50s, 3 females 60s, 6 males 60s, 1 female 70s, 4 males 70s, 3 females 80s, 2 males 80s, 4 females 90s
• Crawford County: 1 female 80s
• Cumberland County: 1 male 80s
• DeKalb County: 1 female 60s
• DeWitt County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s
• DuPage County: 4 males 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
• Effingham County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s
• Greene County: 1 male 70s
• Grundy County: 1 male 60s
• Jackson County: 1 male 80s
• Jasper County: 1 female 90s
• Kane County: 1 female 30s, 1 male 30s, 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
• Kankakee County: 1 female 30s, 1 female 50s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 90s
• Knox County: 1 female 40s, 1 male 70s
• Lake County: 1 male 40s, 2 females 80s, 1 male 80s, 4 females 90s
• LaSalle County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
• Lee County: 1 female 100+
• Livingston County: 1 male 80s
• Macon County: 2 females 70s, 2 males 70s, 2 females 80s, 3 males 80s, 1 male 90s
• Madison County: 1 male 70s, 2 males 80s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
• Marion County: 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
• Mason County: 1 female 90s, 1 female 100+
• McHenry County: 1 male 40s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
• McLean County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
• Ogle County: 1 female 60s, 2 males 80s
• Peoria County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 2 males 80s, 1 female 90s
• Perry County: 1 female 90s
• Pike County: 2 females 80s, 1 female 90s
• Rock Island County: 1 female 70s, 2 females 80s, 1 male 80s
• Saline County: 2 males 80s
• Sangamon County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 90s
• Shelby County: 1 female 90s
• St. Clair County: 1 male 90s
• Tazewell County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 90s
• Vermilion County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 80s
• Wayne County: 1 male 50s
• Whiteside County: 1 male 40s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s
• Will County: 3 females 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 2 males 80s, 1 male 90s, 3 females 100+
• Williamson County: 2 males 80s
• Winnebago County: 1 female 70s, 2 males 70s, 1 male 90s

Hospitalizations fell slightly Wednesday. As of Tuesday night, 6,133 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 across Illinois — about 0.6 percent lower than the previous day — including 1,208 in intensive care and 679 on ventilators.

The statewide case positivity rate — a rolling, seven-day average — is now 10.6 percent, 0.2 percentage points higher than on Tuesday.

(That's the number the state has reported since the start of the pandemic and is calculated by dividing total cases detected by total tests performed. Another way to calculate the positivity rate is to divide the number of positive tests by total tests performed. By that calculation, the test positivity rate is 12.2 percent.)

According to Johns Hopkins University, a positivity rate of less than 5 percent is a good measure of whether enough tests are being conducted, and state officials have said a rate higher than 8 percent will trigger new restrictions in a given region.

See how your region is doing here.

The entire state moved to Tier 3 mitigations last week, which meant the closing of casinos, theaters, indoor museums, performing arts centers and indoor amusement centers. Indoor service at bars and restaurants is now prohibited, and retail and grocery stores will operate at 25 percent capacity, with delivery or curbside pickup options encouraged.

"The simple fact is that COVID-19 is spreading so quickly and so widely, and our hospitals are beginning to experience real strain, and at the current infection rate, they will be overwhelmed," Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. "So whenever possible, we need you to stay home."

The United States now has more than 12.6 million confirmed coronavirus infections, and at least 260,190 Americans have died from COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University. Based on the latest predictions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 276,000 to 298,000 Americans could be dead from the disease by Dec. 12.

Globally, more than 60 million people have been infected and more than 1.4 million are known to have died.

Illinois Patch Local Business Information Center

As local and state economies slowly emerge from pandemic lockdowns, it's often hard for customers to know the conditions under which local businesses are open. The business center contains easily accessible and up-to-date information about scores of local businesses, including everything from operating hours to the availability of by-appointment services, quick website links and other contact information. It's free to use and free for businesses to join.

Here's what's happening with the coronavirus in Illinois:

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Kendall, DeKalb Co. Courts Pause Jury Trials Amid COVID-19 Surge

Twenty-third Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Robert Pilmer said jury trials will be paused until Feb. 21.

Stay Home, Stay Safe For Thanksgiving: Kane County Mayors

"It's time for us to not sit at the same table, potentially sharing a virus with our loved ones," Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain said.

Kendall Co. Hospitals Being 'Squeezed' Due To Coronavirus Surge

County health officials are urging residents to "continue to wear your mask, wash your hands often, and watch your distance from others."

Photos Show Big Thanksgiving Crowds, Little Distancing At O'Hare

Dr. Ezike said Thursday that she fears families traveling for Thanksgiving may mean some family members won't be alive for Christmas.

Entire State Moving To Tier 3: 'This Is Not A Stay-At-Home Order'

"Tier 3 boils down to this: if you don't need to do it, don't," Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday.

Illinois Health Care Workers 'Paying The Price' As Cases Surge

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Keep Thanksgiving Virtual Or Within Own Household In IL: CDC

Small gatherings are a big contributor to the worsening coronavirus pandemic, health officials said. Illinois is on a stay-at-home advisory.

Illinois Coronavirus Helpline:

Illinois officials say a state helpline has been set up to provide emotional support and quick answers to questions about the coronavirus pandemic. Illinoisans can test "TALK" to 55-2020 (or "HABLAR" for Spanish), and within 24 hours they will receive a call from a counselor. Residents can also text keywords such as "UNEMPLOYMENT," "FOOD" or "SHELTER," to the same number to receive additional information about those topics.

Coronavirus by the numbers:

Illinois:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 685,467
• Confirmed Deaths: 11,832
• People tested: 10,104,537
• Recovered: Illinois does not provide exact numbers of recovered cases, but says the recovery rate is 97 percent.

Nationwide:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 12,619,931
• Deaths: 260,322
• People tested: 182,928,236
• Recovered: 4,696,664

Global:

• Total number of coronavirus cases: 60,101,887
• Deaths: 1,416,853
• People tested: No data available
• Recovered: 38,452,823

Sources: Johns Hopkins University and IDPH

Tips from the CDC on dealing with coronavirus:

While the best way to prevent illness is to avoid virus exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention generally recommends taking these actions to prevent the spread of viruses:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

What to do if you're sick:

Call head if you're planning to visit your doctor:

• If you have a medical appointment, call the health care provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the health care provider's office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.

Stay home unless you must see a doctor:

• Stay home: People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness. You should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care.
• Avoid public areas: Do not go to work, school, or public areas.
• Avoid public transportation: Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing or taxis.

Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home:

• Stay away from others: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.
• Limit contact with pets and animals: You should restrict contact with pets and other animals while you are sick with COVID-19, just as you would around other people. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus.
• When possible, have another member of your household care for your animals while you are sick. If you are sick with COVID-19, avoid contact with your pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked and sharing food. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a face mask. See COVID-19 and Animals for more information.

Avoid sharing personal household items:

• Do not share: You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home.
• Wash thoroughly after use: After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.

Masks:

• CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.
• Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
• The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.
• Face mask instructions — sew- and no-sew masks

To donate personal protective equipment (PPE), email PPE.donations@illinois.gov. For health questions about COVID-19, call the state coronavirus hotline at 800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.