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For the third day in a row, Illinois set a record for the number of people vaccinated. The increase came as the state reallocated the vaccine from areas with lower demand to regions such as collared counties where demand is high. The governor specified that the state does not store reserves.
“There is no fund for rainy days for vaccinations, if we can push it into someone’s arm, we will do it immediately. We use as much vaccine as possible,” said Governor JB Pritzker.
But the governor acknowledged that in some areas, organizations working with local health departments could stick to doses.
“Sometimes those partners keep a few more refinements than they should. And so we just want everyone to push them out, “Pritzker said.
There were 1,279,772 total cases of COVID, including 21,505 deaths in the state.
As of Saturday night, 1,834 patients in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of these, 409 patients were in intensive care and 176 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
In the last 24 hours, laboratories have reported testing 69,600 specimens for a total of 21,172,007 since the pandemic began.
Governor JB Pritzker announces 150 more vaccination appointments for Chicago suburbs next week
The seven-day preliminary positive test nationwide between April 4-10 is 4.9%.
In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said 1.5 million doses of COVID vaccine have now been given, with efforts focused specifically on vulnerable communities. Starting Saturday morning, the former Treasure Island grocery store on Wells near Lincoln Park will serve as a vaccination site, offering another 1,000 doses.
The site will provide a complete inoculation with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine before next week’s shipments.
“Doing this with Johnson & Johnson tomorrow and taking care of him in one day is much easier for us,” Hopkins said.
As other states like California set dates for full reopening, Pritzker is unwilling to commit.
“And I’ve never been able to give an answer, because this virus is so unpredictable, but we’re heading in the right direction,” Pritzker said.
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To move into the fifth phase, 50% of those aged 16 and over need to be vaccinated with at least the first shot, the current number is now over 43%, but could increase faster starting next week as eligibility it expands.
And additional vaccinations could help reverse the current upward trend in cases and hospitalizations, which must be stable before the state can fully reopen.
A total of 9,001,105 doses of the vaccine were delivered to suppliers in Illinois, including Chicago.
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A total of 7,178,611 vaccines have been administered in Illinois since Saturday night. The seven-day average of daily vaccines is 126,827 doses. 131,285 doses were reported in Illinois on Saturday, a new record.
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On Monday, April 12, all residents 16 and older will be eligible for the vaccine in Illinois. Chicago will wait until April 19 to extend eligibility. Chicago residents are eligible to get vaccinated in suburban areas.
The Grayslake Lake County mass vaccination site is also changing its format starting Monday. The Lake County Illinois Fairground will become a vaccination site instead of a cross-country.
The county health department said this will allow them to take 2,500 photos a day instead of 1,500. Masks and social distance are required inside the building.
COVID vaccine schedules at the Gary Mass Vaccination Site are open to Illinois, Chicago residents
With reservations for the COVID vaccine in Chicago, many city dwellers are heading to northwest Indiana to get photos on Gary’s FEMA website.
Many Chicagoans are looking for a vaccination meeting for weeks. This week, senior Illinois health officials pushed residents to drive to find a dose.
Because the Gary mass vaccination site is run by FEMA, you do not have to be a resident of Indiana to get an appointment. You can schedule an appointment until by clicking here or by calling 866-211-9966 if you do not have access to a computer or need assistance.
Deaths reported on Sunday include:
– Cook County: 2 men aged 40, 1 woman aged 70, 1 woman aged 80
– DeKalb county: 1 man of 80 years
– DuPage County: 1 woman aged 70 years
– Iroquois County: 1 woman from the ’80s
– Kane County: 1 man from the ’80s
– McHenry County: 1 woman of 80, 1 man of 80 years
– McLean County: 1 70-year-old man
-Montgomery County: 1 woman from the 90s
– Peoria county: 1 man of 20 years
– St. county Clair: 1 woman from the 90’s
– Tazewell County: 1 woman aged 60, 1 man aged 70
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