The total number of cases in Illinois now stands at 1,152,995, with a total of 19,739 deaths since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Government Pritzker announced Wednesday that Illinois is considering plans to extend Phase 1B admission on Feb. 25 to people with comorbidities and underlying conditions as defined by the CDC. In addition, Illinois will also prioritize people with disabilities.
“Once we receive enough vaccine supplies, we do not have to waste any time protecting a wider section of our most vulnerable population,” Pritzker said. “Those younger than 65 and living together, such as cancer survivors or people living with heart disease, have an increased risk of serious complications or death if they contract COVID-19. Illinois is moving forward, according to the CDC, to expand our eligible population. out as the offer allows, bringing us closer to the point where the vaccine is widely available to anyone who wants it.In the meantime, I encourage all Illinois residents to wear our masks and follow the softeners so more of us neighbors are healthy. and alive when it’s their turn in the vaccination line. ‘
The governor said his office is working with local health departments on the expansion and areas that have already vaccinated most of their residents eligible for Phase 1B could expand access through Feb. 25.
The high-risk categories covered in the expansion include:
-Cancer
-Chronic kidney disease
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
-Diabetes
-Heart condition
-Immun-compromised state from a Solid Organ Transplant
-Vetish
-Pregnancy
-Lung disease
-Cystic disease
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This expansion could nearly double the number of people currently eligible for the vaccine, at a time when supply is scarce, but the governor has expressed optimism that federal government delivery will increase significantly in the coming weeks.
“My administration will work with all local public health departments in the coming weeks to fit these higher-risk individuals into their community vaccination plans,” Pritzker said.
The move could add another 2.5 million people to Phase 1B, at a time when demand is far higher than supply.
Allison Arwardy, Chicago’s public health commissioner, responded cautiously to the announcement.
“If we now add additional people to 1B, it is only necessary to make it more difficult for people who are already able to get the vaccine,” said Dr. Arwady said.
In Chicago, officials did not plan to include people under 65 with underlying conditions by early to the end of March, and the group represents another 900,000 people in Chicago alone.
“We will definitely have some more talks with the state,” said Dr. Arwady said. “If they got the assurance that there would be an extra vaccine, and they could direct it to Chicago, it would be very helpful if we could move on faster.”
Chicago receives its own vaccine shipments from the federal government, separately from the state. And dr. Arwady said she does not expect federal deliveries to increase significantly at least until early March.
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In the past 24 hours, laboratories reported 82,885 samples for a total of 16,822,385.
As of Tuesday night, it was reported that 2,082 patients in Illinois were in the hospital with COVID-19. Of these, 464 patients were in the ICU and 232 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day positive test positivity from February 9 is 4.0%.
A total of 1,724,325 doses of vaccine were delivered to suppliers in Illinois, including Chicago, with an additional 428,100 doses allocated to federal government partners for long-term care facilities, bringing the total number delivered in Illinois to 2,152,425.
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IDPH reports that a total of 1,480,079 doses of vaccines have been administered, including 223,790 at long-term facilities. The seven-day running average number of vaccines is 55,135.
The IDPH says that the distribution numbers of vaccines are reported in real time and that the number of vaccines lags by as much as 72 hours.
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The deaths reported on Wednesday include:
– Adams County: 1 70-year-old woman, 1 70-year-old woman
– Bond County: 1 female 90s
– Carroll County: 1 female 70s
– Champaign County: 1 female 70s
– Cook County: 1 man 40s, 2 women 60s, 2 women 70s, 4 men 70s, 3 women 80s, 4 men 80s
– DeKalb County: 1 80-year-old man
– DuPage County: 1 female 70s. 2 men 70s
– Franklin County: 1 female 70’s
– Grundy County: 1 80-year-old man
– Hamilton County: 1 80-year-old woman
– Jefferson County: 1 man 70’s
– Kane County: 1 60-year-old man, 1 70-year-old man
– LaSalle County: 1 female 80s, 1 80s female
– Lee County: 1 70-year-old man
– Macon County: 1 50-year-old man
– Massac County: 1 female 80s
– McHenry County: 1 90-year-old woman
– McLean County: 1 female 60s, 1 80s female
– Ogle County: 1 70-year-old woman, 1 70-year-old woman
– Peoria County: 1 70-year-old man, 1 80-year-old man
– St Clair County: 1 man 70s, 1 80s woman, 1 90s woman
– Stephenson County: 1 80-year-old man
– Vermilion County: 1 80-year-old man
– Will County: 1 female 60s
– Winnebago County: 1 female 40s, 1 female 50s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s
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