Just days before the three-year anniversary of the state's first COVID-19 diagnosis, Illinois Department of Public Health officials are reporting the state has surpassed 36,000 deaths from the virus.
The state's death toll from COVID-19 now stands at 36,005, which includes 78 Illinois residents who died the week ending Jan. 15, according to IDPH figures. DuPage County, the state's second-most populated county, had the second-highest death toll of any county in the state at 1,837. In Will County, 1,670 residents have died from the disease. Lake County's death toll stands at 1,526, while Kane County's is at 1,201. McHenry County is reporting 517 deaths over the past three years from COVID-19.IDPH reported 1,249 COVID-19 patients being treated in hospitals across the state as of Wednesday, the most recent data available.
"We are fortunate at this time to see no increase in hospitalizations," said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra."IDPH is continuing to focus our efforts on preserving hospital capacity and protecting those Illinois residents most at risk for severe disease from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses."The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting 18.5% of the state's roughly 12.