SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — New daily COVID-19 cases in Illinois rose above 4,000 Friday for the first time since January.
In addition, around 1,800 people in Illinois were hospitalized with the virus.
The good news, according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, is that vaccination rates continue to increase as a record number of vaccines were administered Friday.
“We just need to make sure every body is following mitigations that exist today — wearing their mask, doing the right thing — so we can bring those hospitalizations and ICU beds down,” said Pritzker.
Vaccinations drastically decrease the chance of hospitalization due to COVID-19, so Pritzker reminded Illinoisans to receive the shot as soon as its available.
“Basically, people who are ending up in the hospital are people who have not been vaccinated,” said Pritzker. “If you get vaccinated, you’re highly unlikely to end up going to the hospital.”
Vaccination eligibility opens to all residents 16 and older across Illinois on Monday, April 12, although eligibility has already been expanded to that group since April 5 in the tri-county area.
Illinoisans can find vaccination locations around them at coronavirus.illinois.gov.
