3 southern Illinois counties at Medium Level for COVID-19

(KBSI) – The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Friday that the CDC is reporting 19 counties in the state are at Medium Community Level for COVID-19. That is up compared to 14 last week.

There were no counties listed at High Community Level compared to one county at High Level last week.

Massacc, Johnson and Jefferson counties were the only counties listed at the medium level in the FOX23 viewing area.

IDPH has recorded a total of 4,050,952 cases and 36,297 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois since the beginning of the pandemic. The department reports 10,813 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois in the week ending February 12, and 68 deaths.

IDPH urges those who test positive for COVID-19 to contact their healthcare provider to determine if treatment is recommended. Access to tests and treatments can also be found at test to treat sites or by contacting your provider for treatment options, within five days of feeling ill.

Updated COVID-19 boosters are available at pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. The best way to locate a vaccine provider near you is to visit vaccines.gov and search for bivalent booster availability.

As of Thursday night (Feb. 16), 979 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 131 patients were in the ICU and 39 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. The preliminary seven-day statewide case rate is 85 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Illinoisans, according to IDPH>

In counties at the Medium Community Level, those who are elderly or immunocompromised (at risk of severe outcomes) are advised to wear a mask in indoor public places. They are also advised to get up to date on COVID-19 vaccines or get their bivalent booster, if eligible.

There are more than 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, according to IDPH.

A total of 26,007,200 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of Feb. 17. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 5,336 doses, including the bivalent booster and first doses. Since February 10, 37,352 vaccine doses were reported administered in Illinois. Of Illinois’ total population, more than 79% have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, more than 71% have completed their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines, and more than 19% have received the bivalent booster dose, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.