The total number of cases in Illinois now stands at 1,152,995, with a total of 19,739 deaths since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Governor Pritzker announced on Wednesday that Illinois is making plans to expand eligibility for Phase 1B on February 25 for people with comorbidities and underlying conditions defined by the CDC. In addition, Illinois will also prioritize people with disabilities.
“Once we get enough vaccine supplies, we don’t have to waste time protecting a wider part of our most vulnerable population,” said Pritzker. “Those who are under 65 and living with comorbidities, such as cancer survivors or those living with heart disease, are at an increased risk of serious complications or death if they contract COVID-19. Illinois is advancing according to CDC guidelines to expand our eligible population as the offer allows, getting closer to the point where the vaccine is widely available to everyone who wants it. In the meantime, I encourage all Illinois residents to wear our masks and follow the mitigating measures so that more of our neighbors are healthy and alive when it is their turn to be vaccinated. “
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The governor said his office is working with local health departments on the expansion and areas that have already vaccinated the majority of residents eligible for Phase 1B can expand access before February 25.
The high-risk categories covered in the expansion include:
-Cancer
– Chronic Kidney Disease
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
-Diabetes
-Cardiac condition
– Immunocompromised status of a solid organ transplant
-Obesity
-Pregnancy
-Lung disease
-Sickle cell anemia
This expansion could almost double the number of people currently eligible for the vaccine at a time of low supply, but the governor expressed optimism that federal government deliveries will increase significantly in the coming weeks.
“My government will work with all local public health departments to fit these high-risk individuals into their community vaccination plans in the coming weeks,” said Pritzker.
The move could add an additional 2.5 million people to Phase 1B at a time when demand is far outstripping supply.
Chicago public health commissioner Dr. Allison Arwardy reacted cautiously to the announcement.
“If we add more people now to 1B, all we will do is make it more difficult for people who are already eligible to receive this vaccine,” said Dr. Arwady.
In Chicago, officials did not plan to include people under the age of 65 with underlying conditions until at least the end of March, with this group representing another 900,000 people in Chicago alone.
“We will certainly have more conversations with the state,” said Dr. Arwady. “If they got any assurance that there will be an additional vaccine, and they could direct it to Chicago, that would be very helpful in terms of being able to move forward more quickly.”
Chicago has received 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 last 24 hours, laboratories reported 82,885 samples for a total of 16,822,385.
As of Tuesday night, 2,082 patients in Illinois were hospitalized with COVID-19. Of these, 464 patients were in the ICU and 232 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary positivity of the February 9 seven-day state test is 4.0%.
A total of 1,724,325 doses of the vaccine were delivered to providers 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 to Illinois to 2,152,425 .
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IDPH reports that a total of 1,480,079 doses of vaccine have been administered, including 223,790 in long-term care facilities. The seven-day moving average of vaccines administered is 55,135.
IDPH says vaccine delivery numbers are reported in real time and vaccine delivery numbers take up to 72 hours.
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Deaths reported on Wednesday include:
– Adams County: 1 woman 70 years old, 1 man 70 years old
– Bond County: 1 woman from the 90s
– Carroll County: 1 70 year old woman
– Champaign County: 1 70 year old woman
– Cook County: 1 man 40 years old, 2 women 60 years old, 2 women 70 years old, 4 men 70 years old, 3 women 80 years old, 4 men 80 years old
– DeKalb County: 1 man from the 80s
– DuPage County: 1 woman, 70 years old. 2 men 70 years
– Franklin County: 1 woman 70 years old
– Grundy County: 1 man from the 80s
– Hamilton County: 1 woman 80 years old
– Jefferson County: 1 70 year old man
– Kane County: 1 male 60 years old, 1 male 70 years old
– LaSalle County: 1 woman 80 years old, 1 man 80 years old
– Lee County: 1 70 year old man
– Macon County: 1 man 50 years old
– Massac County: 1 female, 80 years old
– McHenry County: 1 woman from the 90s
– McLean County: 1 woman 60 years old, 1 woman 80 years old
– Ogle County: 1 woman 70 years old, 1 man 70 years old
– Peoria County: 1 male 70 years old, 1 male 80 years old
– St Clair County: 1 man 70 years old, 1 woman 80 years old, 1 woman 90 years old
– Stephenson County: 1 man from the 80s
– Vermilion County: 1 man from the 80s
– Will County: 1 60 year old woman
– Winnebago County: 1 woman 40 years old, 1 woman 50 years old, 1 man 70 years old, 1 woman 90 years old
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