About half of counties across Illinois have elevated levels of COVID-19 hospitalizations, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the state’s overall respiratory illness level has decreased in recent weeks.
All hospitalizations related to COVID-19 have remained at a medium level for four straight weeks. In the week of Jan. 20, hospitalizations were at 2.6% and emergency department visits were at 2.1%, the Illinois Department ofPublicHealth reported. The state’s overall respiratory illness level peaked the week of Jan. 6 but started to trend down the week of Jan. 13.
“Although I am happy to report that Illinois’s overall respiratory illness activity is currently trending downward, respiratory viral season is still upon us with more than half of our counties still experiencing elevated levels of COVID-19 hospitalizations,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “If you develop respiratory symptoms, please contact your health care provider, and seek treatment as quickly as possible. We have effective treatments for COVID-19, the flu, and RSV.”