Illinois COVID-19 vaccine providers have averaged more than 102,147 photos a day in the past week, compared to less than 53,000 photos a day less than a month ago.
Illinois Department of Public Health officials also reported Monday that 62,508 vaccinations had been given the day before. Although it is lower than average, many vaccination sites are closed or have reduced hours on Sundays.
To date, vaccine suppliers across the state have given 4,102,810 photos since the first doses arrived in Illinois three months ago. There are now 1,524,765 people in Illinois who have been completely vaccinated by the state’s supply of the vaccine, or about 12% of the population, based on IDPH records. Many others are in the waiting period between the first and second dose of Moderna or Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine.
State officials also reported 12 more COVID-19 deaths and 782 recently diagnosed cases.
This brings the state’s death toll from the virus to 20,955, with 1,210,113 infected since the outbreak began.
Although this is the first time the number of new cases has been below 1,000 since July, only 39,145 test results have been returned. This kept the seven-day case positivity rate at the state level at 2.2%, roughly where it was for almost two weeks. At its peak in mid-November, the positivity rate of seven-day cases nationwide was 13.2%. The percentage indicates how many tests performed led to the diagnosis of a new case of the disease.
Meanwhile, nationwide hospitals treat 1,112 patients for COVID-19 infections. Of those hospitalized, 227 are in intensive care, according to IDPH figures.
Gov. JB Pritzker announced Monday’s plans to relocate Illinois National Guard mobile vaccination units to more rural areas of the state. As more vaccination sites are created, accessibility to vaccine doses is expected to increase, especially in the suburbs.
This is the case in Kane County, where officials have announced the construction of a new vaccination site in Batavia, and the opening on Friday will serve those currently eligible through state guidelines by April, then open to all others on May 1st. workers, people aged 65 and over, and those under 65 with medical conditions who increase their risk of serious cases if they receive COVID-19.
“We will be able to open it to our entire eligible adult population so we can get the vaccination,” Kane Council President Corinne Pierog told ABC 7 Chicago on Monday.