The total number of cases in Illinois is now 1,120,528, with a total of 19,138 deaths since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the past 24 hours, laboratories reported 111,057 samples for a total of 15,844,619.
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The preliminary positivity of the seven-day state test from 22 to 28 January is 5.4%.
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The test’s positivity rate is a metric that the state began providing in late October. It is calculated using the total number of positive tests over the total number of tests. This is the metric used by state health officials to make mitigation decisions.
A total of 1,304,475 doses of the vaccine were delivered to providers in Illinois, including Chicago, with an additional 496,100 doses allocated to federal government partners for long-term care facilities, bringing the total number delivered to Illinois to 1,800,575 .
Find out how many people can get the COVID-19 vaccine before you
A total of 58,357 doses were administered Thursday, making it the third consecutive day Illinois saw a record number of vaccines administered. On Tuesday, 53,628 doses were administered and 55,865 on Wednesday.
RELATED: Johnson & Johnson Vaccine 85% Effective Against Serious COVID-19 Disease
The long-awaited Johnson & Johnson vaccine appears to protect against COVID-19 with just one injection – not as strong as some rivals for two doses, but still potentially useful for a world that urgently needs more doses.
J&J said on Friday that in the United States and seven other countries, the single injection vaccine was 66% effective in preventing moderate to severe illnesses and much more protective – 85% – against the most severe symptoms.
Only 1.4% of the Illinois population received both doses of the vaccine.
In Chicago, health officials said they are receiving only about 35,000 doses of vaccine a week, allowing them to administer just 5,000 doses a day, for vaccines that require two doses.
“The federal government is instructing us to take the first and second doses and to ensure that everyone receives the doses on time,” said Pritzker.
Instead of vaccinating as many people as possible with the first dose, Governor Pritzker said the state kept vaccines in reserve for the second doses.
Appointments for the second dose are even more difficult to find for some than the initial vaccines.
“I’m not kidding, I was on that phone for about nine hours, yes, I was, and it’s impossible. It’s a mess. This is more stress, ”said Jocelyn Jones.
Jones and her husband are over 65 with underlying health problems. She said the next queries she could find on the Cook County portal were in March.
“It won’t do us any good if we don’t get the second one, and it’s almost impossible to get it,” she said.
Cook County Health CEO Israel Rocha said he would look into the situation Jones described, and added more vaccine for the county and more staff added to the sites should allow consultations to be made at the site after receiving the first dose.
“We are expanding our smaller sites, we are adding more team members to accommodate this feature and we hope to have it available on all sites in the coming days,” said Rocha.
Jones said she eventually managed to make appointments for her and her husband for the second dose of the COVID vaccine within the three-week window, but she failed to do it through Cook County.
State Republicans are questioning Pritzker about the state’s delayed efforts in the area. They note that Illinois ranks 47th in the overall vaccine distribution.
In a letter addressed to Pritzker, members of the Republican Senate Caucus said Illinois ranks 47th in the overall vaccine distribution, with only 4.8% of Illinois residents receiving at least one vaccine on Thursday.
“We are asking you to provide a clear explanation to Illinois lawmakers and citizens about why Illinois is among the worst states in terms of delivering vaccines to those who need it most,” said the caucus in the letter, adding that placing the blame on the former President Donald Trump or the federal government is unsatisfactory.
Suburban teachers receive vaccines
While the Chicago Teachers Union insists that educators should get the COVID-19 vaccine before returning to the classroom, more suburban teachers are receiving the photo.
More teachers and essential workers will receive their injection on Friday in Deerfield.
District 109 is working with the local company Walgreens to vaccinate Deerfield public school staff. They will receive their first dose of the Pfizer double vaccine on Friday; the second injection will be given next month.
Earlier this week, DPS also approved a COVID-19 test support contract with the University of Illinois for COVID-19 tests for students and staff. If approved, the test program will test students and staff who return to class. More information about the deal will be revealed in the coming weeks.
IDPH reports that a total of 887,845 doses of vaccine have been administered, including 131,401 in long-term facilities. The seven-day moving average of vaccines administered is 38,738.
IDPH says vaccine delivery numbers are reported in real time and vaccine delivery numbers take up to 72 hours.
Walgreens is providing vaccines at 92 locations across the state and appointments can be made on its website, while Jewel-Osco will begin vaccinating eligible residents on Tuesday, with appointments available on its website.
Pritzker said there are plans to launch crossing points as soon as vaccine supplies increase. He also announced the creation of a new portal, coronavirus.illinois.gov, to provide the latest vaccine information.
As of Thursday night, 2,735 patients in Illinois were hospitalized with COVID-19. Of these, 532 patients were in the ICU and 297 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
Deaths reported on Friday include:
– County of Bond: 1 woman of 70 years
– Champaign County: 1 male, 60 years old
– Coles County: 1 male, 60 years old
– Cook County: 1 woman 40 years old, 1 woman 50 years old, 2 men 50 years old, 1 woman 60 years old, 3 men 60 years old, 1 woman 70 years old, 2 men 70 years old, 1 woman 80 years old, 3 men 80 years old, 1 male 90 years
– DeKalb County: 1 woman 60 years old
– Douglas County: 1 woman from the 80s
– DuPage County: 1 woman 70 years old, 1 man 90 years old
– Effingham County: 1 woman from the 90s
– Fayette County: 1 man from the 90s
– Iroquois County: 1 woman from the 90s
– Kane County: 1 woman 20 years old, 1 man 60 years old, 2 men 70 years old, 1 man 80 years old, 1 woman 90 years old, 1 man 90 years old
– Kendall County: 1 man 40 years old
– Lake County: 1 man aged 50, 1 woman aged 70, 1 woman aged 80, 1 woman aged 90
– County of LaSalle: 1 male of 60 years
– Logan County: 1 man 50 years old
– Madison County: 1 male 70 years old, 1 male 90 years old
– McHenry County: 2 women 70 years old, 1 man 70 years old, 1 man 80 years old
– Peoria County: 1 woman from the 90s
– Piatt County: 1 man from the 80s
– Pike County: 1 male, 60 years old
– Randolph County: 1 man from the 80s
– Rock Island County: 1 woman 60 years old, 1 woman 80 years old
– Saline County: 1 man, 70 years old
– Shelby County: 1 man from the 90s
– St. Clair County: 2 men 70 years old, 1 man 90 years old
– Stephenson County: 1 woman 70 years old, 1 woman 80 years old
– Tazewell County: 1 male 60 years old, 1 female 80 years old
– Vermilion County: 1 male, 60 years old
– Whiteside County: 1 70 year old man
– Will County: 1 woman 50 years, 1 woman 70 years, 1 man 70, 1 man 80
– Williamson County: 1 woman from the 90s
– Winnebago County: 1 male 80 years old, 1 female 90, 1 male 90
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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