COVID-19 Deaths Surpass 15,000 in Illinois as Vaccination Efforts Intensify

Strategic Insights -

Illinois officials reported a tragic milestone of 15,000 deaths from COVID-19 on Friday, as more than 17,000 healthcare workers in the suburbs and beyond have been vaccinated against the respiratory disease so far. The state is also partnering with Walgreens and CVS to administer vaccines at nursing homes, with Deerfield-based Walgreens starting to give COVID-19 vaccines at long-term care facilities in Ohio and Connecticut on Friday. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that Illinois' current supply of the Pfizer Inc. vaccine will be supplemented by a Moderna Inc. version in the coming days, after the Food and Drug Administration approved it Friday night.

Key Takeaways:

  • Illinois reported 15,015 deaths from COVID-19 on Friday, surpassing the 15,000 milestone.
  • More than 17,000 healthcare workers in the suburbs and beyond have been vaccinated against COVID-19 so far.
  • The state is partnering with Walgreens and CVS to administer vaccines at nursing homes.
  • Deerfield-based Walgreens started giving COVID-19 vaccines at long-term care facilities in Ohio and Connecticut on Friday.
  • Gov. J.B. Pritzker stated that Illinois' current supply of the Pfizer Inc. vaccine will be supplemented by a Moderna Inc. version in the coming days.
  • The Moderna vaccine is "more than 94% effective after two doses, and it's proven very safe in clinical trials," according to Pritzker.
  • As of Friday morning, more than 17,000 health care workers in the suburbs and elsewhere in Illinois had been vaccinated.
  • Chicago has a separate tally of vaccinated healthcare workers.
  • New cases of COVID-19 came to 7,377, with 181 additional deaths, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
  • The state was partnering with Walgreens and CVS to administer the vaccines at nursing homes to support the vaccination efforts.
  • IDPH rules state Tier 3 restrictions will be eased if a region's positivity rate for COVID-19 tests is less than 12% for three days, more than 20% of general and ICU hospital beds are available for three days, and the number of COVID-19 patients decreases for seven out of 10 days.
  • Suburban Cook (Region 10) recorded its first day since Dec. 6 under the 12% positivity threshold according to the latest IDPH data.

Statistics:

  • 15,015 deaths from COVID-19 in Illinois.
  • 17,000+ healthcare workers vaccinated in the suburbs and beyond.
  • 7,377 new cases of COVID-19.
  • 181 additional deaths.
  • 112,292 tests processed in the last 24 hours.
  • 886,805 total virus cases since the pandemic began.
  • 8% case positivity rate for COVID-19 cases based on a seven-day average.

Sources:

  • Marni Pyke, "COVID-19 deaths surpass 15,000 in Illinois as vaccination efforts intensify," The Daily Herald, December 2020.
  • Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) data, reported on Friday.
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Moderna vaccine, reported on Friday.
  • Walgreens statement, reported on Friday.
  • Gov. J.B. Pritzker's briefing, reported on Friday.