IL Hospitalizations Surpass Spring Peaks In Most Regions

ILLINOIS — As Illinois reports over 12,000 positive cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, the state is also seeing hospitalizations return or rise above their spring peaks. For the first time, the state also recorded over 100,000 tests in a single day.

In his briefing on Tuesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the majority of the state's regions are seeing more hospitalizations than they did last spring.

"Outside of Cook and the collar counties, much of Illinois' communities are experiencing the worst surge that they've seen yet," he said.

In region 1 in northwest Illinois, hospitalizations are 1.9 times higher than their spring peak, according to data shared Tuesday during the briefing. Several regions have more than doubled hospitalizations since the spring, including region 2 (2.5 times higher), region 3 (3.2 times higher), region 5 (2.3 times higher) and region 6 (3.5 times higher).

"Even where things are not as awful, things are still bad," Pritzker said, adding that region 4 is 1.1 times higher than its spring peak, and region 7 is 1.2 times higher than its spring peak.

Regions 8, 9, 10 and 11 are the only regions to not yet surpass the peak hospitalizations seen in the spring.

"Statewide, we're now averaging more than 4,200 patients with COVID-19 in the hospital," Pritzker said. "Our highest average in the spring was 4,822."

Pritzker said he has been in touch with hospitals and healthcare workers across the state.

"They implore you to make sure that everyone wears a mask and stops gathering with a large number of people in your homes," Pritzker said.

As of Monday night, 4,742 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 across Illinois, including 911 in intensive care and 399 on ventilators.

"Let's make a renewed effort to keep each other safe as we enter this holiday season," the governor added.

Related:

• 12,623 Coronavirus Cases Reported Tuesday: New Illinois Record