* Press release…

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 1,510 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 16 additional deaths.

- Champaign County: 1 male 40s, 1 male 60s, 1 male 80s
- Cook County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
- Kane County: 1 female 30s
- Lake County: 1 female 60s, 1 female 70s
- LaSalle County: 1 female 80s
- Madison County: 1 male 60s
- McHenry County: 1 male 80s
- Monroe County: 1 male 90s
- Rock Island County: 1 female 90s
- Winnebago County: 1 male 60s

Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,201,027 cases, including 20,781 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 53,445 specimens for a total of 18,733,271. As of last night, 1,177 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 263 patients were in the ICU and 132 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.

The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from March 2-8, 2021 is 2.3%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from March 2-8, 2021 is 2.7%.

A total of doses of 4,182,905 vaccine have been delivered to providers in Illinois, including Chicago. In addition, approximately 414,900 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 4,597,805. A total of 3,463,150 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight, including 348,629 for long-term care facilities. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 92,180 doses. Yesterday, 75,372 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. Information for deaths previously reported has changed, therefore, today’s numbers have been adjusted. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.

* USA Today…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines Monday designed to ease restrictions for Americans who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The agency’s guidance says those who have received a full course of COVID-19 vaccine may get together with other fully vaccinated individuals in small groups inside their homes without masks or physical distancing. They can visit with unvaccinated people from one other household who are at low risk for severe disease.

The guidelines say fully vaccinated people don’t need to quarantine or take a COVID-19 test if they’ve been exposed, unless they’re symptomatic. They should still monitor for symptoms for 14 days even if they’re not in quarantine.

“You can visit your grandparents if you’ve been vaccinated and they have been, too,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a White House briefing Monday. “If grandparents have been vaccinated, they can visit their daughter and her family even if they have not been vaccinated, so long as the daughter and her family are not at risk for severe disease.”

* Tribune live blog headlines…

Parents angered by ‘bullying’ at school board meetings come to the defense of Indian Prairie district officials

Glenview residents 65 and older can sign up Tuesday afternoon for mass vaccination event at Glenbrook South

United Center opens as COVID-19 mass vaccination site: ‘We are now a live clinic.’

Parents from 9 school districts to hold rally in downtown Naperville demanding students return to the classroom

With teachers vaccines up and COVID-19 cases down, some high schools eye plan for near-total reopening.

* NBC Chicago live blog headlines…

United Center COVID Vaccine Site Opens Tuesday

Zocdoc Glitches Plague Registration for United Center COVID Vaccine Appointments

United Center COVID Vaccine Eligibility Changes, Causing Confusion and Frustration

More CPS Students Return to Schools for In-Person Learning