Illinois COVID Update: IL reports 2,304 new coronavirus cases, 47 deaths; Cook County could enters Phase 4 ABC 7 Chicago Digital Team
Cook Co. re-enters Phase 4 of reopening
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Illinois health officials reported 2,304 new COVID-19 cases and 47 deaths Tuesday and restrictions have now been rolled back to Phase 4 for suburban Cook County.
The total number of cases in Illinois now stands at 1,130,917, with a total of 19,306 deaths, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 60,899 specimens for a total of 16,161,454.
The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from Jan. 26-Feb. 1 is 4.9%.
The test positivity rate is a metric the state began providing in late October. It is calculated by using the total number of positive tests over the total number of tests. This is the metric being used to by state health officials to make decisions about mitigations.
Hundreds of thousands of people in the Chicago area will be added to the roster of those allowed vaccines starting on Monday, but many will be waiting longer to receive their first shot, officials have said.
“I think the decision to lower the age eligibility for the vaccine rollout is appropriate, particularly when we have significant concerns right now about community spread,” said Dr. Mercedes Carnethon with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Steve Brandy with the Will County Health Department said the county is trying to get more partners and medical providers involved to help distribute the vaccine.
More than 40,000 people in Will County have taken a COVID-19 Vaccination Registration Survey.
“It’s not making an appointment for your vaccine,” said Steve Brandy, Will County Health Department spokesman. “It’s letting us know you want to have the vaccine.”
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