SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – New cases of COVID-19 are again ticking up in Illinois, as is the number of counties most likely to have spread of the disease.
The Illinois Department of Public Health says another 35,371 new cases of COVID were reported statewide as of Friday — an increase of more than 2,000 since the week before.
But, of greater concern, the state says three more counties are now at “Medium” or “High” levels of community spread. That means 97 of 102 counties are now there. Of those, a sharp increase of “High”-rated counties brings that total to 66.
Peoria and Tazewell Counties have gone down to “Medium” from “High,” where the two counties were the last several weeks, and Woodford has gone from “Medium” to “Low.”
1,459 people in Illinois are hospitalized with COVID, almost the same as the prior week. 153 of those are in the ICU.
“With 97 counties at an elevated risk level for COVID-19, the most important thing people can do to protect themselves is to make sure they are up-to-date on their vaccinations and boosters,” said IDPH Acting Director Amaal Tokars, in a news release. “This is the most effective means we have to protect ourselves from serious illness, hospitalization and death. So please don’t wait to get up-to-date!”
