SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) — On Monday, March 22, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 1,220 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus in the state and 12 new deaths.

  • Cook County: 1 female 50, 1 male 60, 2 females 70s, 1 male 70s, 2 females 80s, 5 males 80s, 1 female 90s, 3 males 90s
  • DeKalb County: 1 female 20s, 1 male 60s
  • Lake County: 1 male 60s
  • Marshall County: 1 male 80s
  • Rock Island County: 1 male 80s
  • Will County: 1 male 80s

Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,223,083 cases, including 21,103 deaths.

Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 47,374 specimens for a total of 19,676,396.  As of Sunday night, 1,182 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 233 patients were in the ICU and 98 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.

The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of the total tests from March 15-21 is 2.6%.

The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from March 15-21 is 2.9%.

A total of 5,341,895 vaccines have been delivered to providers in Illinois, including Chicago.

In addition, approximately 414,900 doses total have been allocated to the federal government’s Pharmacy Partnership Program for long-term care facilities.  This brings the total Illinois doses to 5,756,795.

A total of 4,747,845 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight, including 361,971 for long-term care facilities.

The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 92,148 doses.

Yesterday, 41,343 doses were reported administered in Illinois.

In order for the state to enter Phase 5 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “Restore Illinois” plan, Illinois must meet metrics based on vaccinations and ICU bed availability.

Vaccination Metrics

Once 70% of residents 65 and older statewide have received their first dose of the vaccine and no increase in COVID-19 metrics is recorded, the state could move into the Bridge Phase. Once 50% of residents 16 and older have received their first dose of the vaccine and no increase in COVID-19 metrics is recorded, the state could move into Phase 5.

COVID-19 Metrics

The state could advance if there is a non-increasing trend in hospital admissions for COVID-19 like illness, COVID-19 patients in the hospital, and mortality rate while ICU bed availability must remain greater than or equal to 20%. The state will consider new knowledge of variants, vaccine effectiveness, and the potential necessity of a booster shot as we move forward.

Monitoring Period

COVID-19 metrics will be considered over a 28-day monitoring period before the state can advance to the next phase. The current monitoring period began when all regions of the state moved into Phase 4.

At this time, the vaccination rate for Illinois residents 65 and older is 64%. The vaccination rate for residents 16 years and older is 30% and ICU bed capacity sits at 28%.