IDPH Data Shows COVID-19 Therapies Averted 8,600 Illinois COVID-19 Hospitalizations in Past 4 Months

Public Health Officials Announce 19,933 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease Over the Past Week; Urge All Who are Eligible to Get Up to Date with Newly Approved Bivalent Booster Shots

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) released data today that shows that widely available COVID-19 treatments have helped to avert approximately 8,600 hospitalizations in the last four months. The announcement comes as 68 counties in Illinois are at an elevated level for COVID-19 and IDPH is strongly urging all who are eligible to take advantage of the new, updated booster shots that are now available. IDPH is reporting 19,933 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 64 deaths since September 2, 2022.

“The therapeutic treatments that are available for COVID-19 work,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “The data from Illinois that IDPH released today show just how effective these treatments can be at protecting people who contract COVID-19 from being hospitalized and severe outcomes.  These treatments are especially recommended for individuals over 50 and those with underlying medical conditions.  The key is to start these medications quickly, within the first five days.  If you have COVID-19 symptoms, please test and get treated right away.

“Vaccines continue to be the most effective tools for preventing the most severe symptoms of COVID-19,” Dr. Vohra continued. “The new booster shots, now available, are the latest, most advanced tool to keep Illinois residents safe and protected. These new bivalent vaccines are designed to offer extra protection against the omicron variants which are now the dominant strain of the virus. Getting up to date is especially important for those who are most at risk of serious outcomes.  We encourage everyone who is eligible to get up to date with these new boosters as soon as possible.”

The CDC authorized two new bivalent booster vaccines on September 2 that include an mRNA component of the original strain to provide an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19 and an added mRNA component in common between the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant.

The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older. 

The updated boosters are available at pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. The best way to locate a vaccine provider near you is to go to www.vaccines.gov and search for bivalent booster availability.

According to the CDC, 28 Illinois counties are now rated at High Community Level for COVID-19. An additional 40 counties in Illinois are now rated at Medium Community Level.

Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,716,318 cases, including 34,811 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois since the beginning of the pandemic.

As of last night, 1,314 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19.  Of those, 163 patients were in the ICU and 48 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.  The preliminary seven-day statewide case rate is 156 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Illinoisans.

The counties in Illinois listed at High Community Level are: Adams, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Coles, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Lawrence, Lee, Marion, Massac, Ogle, Perry, Pike, Saline, Wabash, Wayne, Whiteside, and Williamson.

The CDC recommends the following measures for people in areas that are rated at High Community Level for COVID-19 transmission:

• Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status (including in K-12 schools and other indoor community settings)
• If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease
  
  • Wear a mask or respirator that provides you with greater protection
    
  • Consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed
    
  • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to take other precautions
    
  • Have a plan for rapid testing if needed (e.g., having home tests or access to testing)
    
  • IF YOU TEST POSITIVE: Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, and monoclonal antibodies
    
• If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease
  
  • consider self-testing to detect infection before contact
    
  • consider wearing a mask when indoors with them
    
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters
  
• Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible
  
• Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19
  

At the Medium Community Level, persons who are elderly or immunocompromised (at risk of severe outcomes) are advised to wear a mask in indoor public places. In addition, they should make sure to get up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines or get their 2nd booster, if eligible.

IDPH has been supporting pharmacies and healthcare providers in efforts to increase their inventories of the various FDA-authorized treatments. There are over 1,200 treatment locations in Illinois - including all the major retail pharmacies. More than 96.7% of the state’s population is within a 10-mile radius of one of these locations.

A total of 23,289,535 vaccines have been administered in Illinois. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 5,825 doses.  Since September 2, 40,777 doses were reported administered in Illinois. Of Illinois’ total population, more than 77% has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, more than 69% of Illinois’ total population is fully vaccinated, and more than 54% of the vaccinated population has an initial booster according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data indicates that the risk of hospitalization and severe outcomes from COVID-19 is much higher for unvaccinated people than for those who are up to date on their vaccinations.  All data are provisional and are subject to change.  Additional information and COVID-19 data can be found at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19.html.  

Vaccination is the key to ending this pandemic.  To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you, go to www.vaccines.gov.  The federal government has established a new website that provides an all-purpose toolkit with information on how to obtain masks, treatment, vaccines and testing resources for all areas of the country at: https://www.covid.gov/.