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5 Illinois counties at high COVID community levels, state says. Here's the latest data

Belleville News-Democrat - 1/18/2023

Jan. 17—The U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rated 61 Illinois counties at elevated COVID-19 community levels in its Thursday update, down from 73 elevated counties last week.

Five counties, Washington, Marion, Logan, Hardin and Hancock, were at high levels, compared to 28 high level counties last week. Much of southwestern Illinois is at a medium, including St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, Bond, Clinton, Randolph counties and others.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 16,602 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases for the week ending Jan. 8, and 113 deaths were logged in the same period.

The CDC's COVID-19 community levels are updated Thursdays and based on metrics from the past seven days, including new hospital admissions per 100,000 people, average percent of staffed, inpatient beds occupied by COVID patients and new cases per 100,000 people.

The federal agency advises people in high community level areas to wear a mask indoors and on public transportation, and people at a higher risk of severe illness should consider precautions in medium-level areas.

In a Jan. 13 statement, IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said he was encouraged to see COVID-19 community levels decline, but urged preparation for a new variant.

"I am encouraged to see COVID-19 community levels once again declining and hospital capacity remaining stable this week," Vohra said in the statement. "Thank you to all Illinois residents who have continued to protect themselves and their loved ones from infection. IDPH is closely monitoring the XBB 'Kraken' variant which is spreading in the northeastern United States and leading to increased cases and hospitalizations. Although we are currently seeing low rates in Illinois at about 8% of clinical samples, it is important for all of us to prepare for and be aware of this emerging variant. Please continue to use all of the tools available to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19, the flu, and other respiratory diseases, especially those most at risk for severe disease."

COVID-19 in St. Clair County, statewide

IDPH reports St. Clair County's weekly case rate is 106.9 per 100,000 people as of Jan. 13, and 14% of the county's intensive care unit beds are available.

The seven-day rolling number of hospital admissions is three. IDPH recorded zero COVID-19 deaths in St. Clair County for the week.

The CDC reports there were 14 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people in St. Clair County and 6.3% of the county's staffed inpatient beds are in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19.

Illinois' statewide weekly case rate is 127.8 per 100,000 people, according to IDPH, and 17% of the state's ICU beds are available. The state's seven-day rolling number of hospital admissions was 135.

As of Thursday night, IDPH reported 1,395 individuals in Illinois were hospitalized with COVID-19, including 169 ICU patients and 62 people on ventilators.

The CDC reports more than 85% of the adult population in St. Clair County has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 75% have completed a primary series. Bivalent booster uptake is at 16.4% among St. Clair County adults, the CDC says.

Statewide, 88.1% of adults have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, 79.7% have had a primary series and 22.1% have gotten a bivalent booster shot, according to the CDC.

Vaccination and testing information is available online in St. Clair County.

Note: This story was updated Tuesday afternoon to reflect a press release from the Illinois Department of Public Health stating a delay in data transfer to the CDC resulted in an undercount of Illinois counties listed at a high community level for COVID-19. CDC data showed three Illinois counties at a high level Friday; the number has been revised to five.

Note: Some CDC data, such as test positivity rates, the number of tests performed and weekly case rate, update on different days. IDPH data and CDC data may not update at the same time, so metrics may vary across agencies.

This story was originally published January 17, 202311:16 AM.

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