54 Illinois counties at high COVID-19 community level as cases drop – NBC Chicago
As holiday celebrations wind down across the state and nation, COVID-19 cases in Illinois have dropped significantly since last week’s reports according to the CDC, though a drop in testing during the holidays could have played a role.
All counties in the Chicago area are at a “medium” COVID-19 community level, with DuPage, Kendall and DeKalb counties moving from “high” to “medium” in the past seven days.
CDC data shows that 54 of Illinois’ 102 counties are currently at a “high” or “medium” community level, up from 88 counties at a high level last week.
Of the 54 counties at a high level, only five are now at a “high” community level, a significant drop from the 33 counties at a “high” community level last week. There are 49 counties in Illinois now at an “average” level, up from 55 counties last week.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, 15,904 new probable and confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the past seven days, with 47 additional deaths.
“I commend the citizens of Illinois for putting into practice important preventative measures to reduce the spread of infections and protect our hospital capacity. It’s encouraging to see fewer Illinois counties at high risk for COVID-19, with only five counties currently at high risk. However, as we continue to experience significant levels of influenza, COVID-19 and other respiratory infections, it is important to continue to protect those most vulnerable to serious consequences, especially those over the age of 65. , immunocompromised people and those with chronic conditions,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a statement.
Vohra added that Illinois residents are recommended to get their flu shot and keep up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, while also testing for COVID-19 when they feel sick.
Currently, Illinois health officials are reporting a total of 3,969,832 cases and 35,761 deaths since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of Thursday evening, 1,767 people in Illinois were reportedly hospitalized with COVID-19. Of these, 225 patients were in intensive care and 80 patients were on ventilators. The seven-day preliminary statewide case rate is 125 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Illinoisans.
Map showing COVID-19 community levels in Illinois as of 12/30/2022. Green indicates “low” level, yellow indicates *medium* level and orange indicates “high” level
The following counties are at a “high” COVID-19 community level, where CDC guidelines recommend wearing masks indoors:
- Adams County
- Johnson County
- Lee County
- County of Massac
- pike county
The following counties are at a “medium” COVID-19 community level, where masks are recommended for the elderly and immunocompromised:
- Bond County
- Boone County
- Calhoun County
- Carroll County
- County of Champagne
- Clark County
- clay county
- Coles County
- Cook County
- Cumberland County
- DeKalb County
- Douglas County
- DuPage County
- Edwards County
- Ford County
- Franklin County
- Fulton County
- Greene County
- Grundy County
- Jackson County
- Jasper County
- Jefferson County
- Jersey County
- Jo Daviess County
- Kane County
- Kendall County
- Knox County
- Lake County
- Logan County
- Madison County
- Marshall County
- Mason County
- McHenry County
- Morgan County
- Ogle County
- Peoria County
- Perry County
- Richland County
- Scott County
- Stephenson County
- Tazewell County
- Wabash County
- Warren County
- Wayne County
- white county
- Whiteside County
- Will County
- Williamson County
- Winnebago County
NBC Chicago
