* Press release…

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 1,246 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 34 additional deaths.

- Christian County: 1 female 80s, 1 male 90s
- Cook County: 2 males 40s, 1 male 50s, 1 female 60s, 5 males 60s, 1 female 70s, 6 males 70s, 2 females 80s, 5 males 80s, 1 female 90s
- DuPage County: 1 male 40s, 1 male 80s
- Kane County: 1 male 50s
- Lake County: 1 male 70s
- LaSalle County: 1 female 90s
- Livingston County: 1 female 80s
- Madison County: 1 male 60s
- Peoria County: 1 male 70s

Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,175,655 cases, including 20,303 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 37,361 specimens for a total of 17,660,161. As of last night, 1,504 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 377 patients were in the ICU and 169 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.

The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from February 15–21, 2021 is 2.8%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from February 15–21, 2021 is 3.1%.

A total of doses of 2,256,975 vaccine have been delivered to providers in Illinois, including Chicago. In addition, approximately 445,200 doses total have been allocated to the federal government’s Pharmacy Partnership Program for long-term care facilities. This brings the total Illinois doses to 2,702,175. A total of 2,211,700 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight, including 282,820 for long-term care facilities. The 7-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 55,499 doses. Yesterday, 59,748 doses were administered in Illinois.

*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.

* Dr. Ezike has an op-ed in the Tribune which reminds folks that the WHO didn’t think there’d even be a vaccine until mid-summer of this year at the earliest…

To date, Illinois has administered the fifth highest number of vaccine doses in the nation, punching above our population rank to do so. Indeed, 12% of our population has received their first dose, which is 15% of our 16+ population — higher than New York and Texas, and tied with California and Florida at time of writing. Ours was one of the first states to announce that those 65 and older would be eligible for vaccine in Phase 1b, because the federal cutoff of 75 and older would deny vaccine to too many Black and brown Illinoisans who were dying at a much earlier age.

But none of this changes a simple truth: There is not enough vaccine in America, or anywhere in the world. And because of it, residents across the nation are scrambling, desperate to secure a place in line for themselves and their loved ones.

The numbers are clear: As of Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has delivered about 73 million doses nationwide, including roughly 2.7 million to Illinois. While the federal government earmarks which doses are first doses, which are second doses, which are for long-term care facilities and which are for large cities, like Chicago, let’s ballpark those numbers: To date, enough vaccine has gone out the door to vaccinate 36 million Americans, or roughly 11% of the population.

* Tribune live coverage blog headlines…

Far fewer COVID-19 deaths in Illinois nursing homes, where residents and workers were prioritized for vaccination.

A tight job market is forcing some Chicagoans to switch careers, return to school in hopes of landing a job

Preckwinkle, Evanston mayor to tour popup vaccine clinic at senior apartment building

With doses in short supply, thousands of frustrated COVID-19 vaccine seekers are turning to social media for help and getting it

3 days, 10,000 doughnuts. Community rallies around Palatine bakery that asked for help online

Suburbanites are getting COVID-19 vaccine appointments on Chicago’s South and West sides. But should they?

What’s safe after COVID-19 vaccination? CDC says don’t shed masks yet.

* Sun-Times live blog headlines…

Biden to boost pandemic lending to smallest businesses

Companies are marketing cabins as pandemic-safe escapes for city dwellers

State health officials also announced 13,433 coronavirus vaccines were administered Saturday, the fewest shots injected in a day in nearly a month.