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* Hospitalizations continue to drop. Vaccinations are looking better. Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 1,795 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 26 additional deaths.
- Cook County: 1 female 30s, 1 female 40s, 1 female 50s, 1 male 50s, 1 female 60s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
- Henry County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s
- Kane County: 1 male 70s
- Kankakee County: 1 male 90s
- Lake County: 1 male 80s
- Logan County: 1 male 70s
- Macoupin County: 1 male 90s
- Madison County: 1 female 60s
- Montgomery County: 1 male 80s
- Peoria County: 1 female 80s
- Rock Island County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
- Schuyler County: 1 male 60s
- St. Clair County: 1 male 60s
- Tazewell County: 1 female 70s
- Winnebago County: 1 male 70sCurrently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,359,748 cases, including 22,285 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 70,216 specimens for a total of 23,505,414. As of last night, 1,899 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 466 patients were in the ICU and 246 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from May 5-11, 2021 is 2.7%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from May 5-11, 2021 is 3.3%.
A total of 10,110,969 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 80,591 doses. Yesterday, 73,345 doses were reported 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 updated. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
*** UPDATE *** Press release excerpt…
In an effort to ensure in-person learning can fully resume as quickly and safely as possible, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced a $235 million investment to expand access to covidSHIELD testing to middle and high schools across the state at low or no cost. The covidSHIELD test, which was developed by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), is a saliva-based test that quickly detects the virus that causes COVID-19, including in people who aren’t exhibiting symptoms. […]
Testing will help quickly identify individuals who are positive for COVID-19 so that people who are close contacts of that individual can be quarantined to prevent further spread. This could include exposure in school, sports, or other extra-curricular activities. The more quickly a case can be identified, the number of potential exposures to other people can be reduced, as well as the number of people needing to quarantine.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 12, 21 @ 12:10 pm
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In theory Shield is fantastic. The reality is that it will take my 2nd grader a good 45 minutes to come up with 2mLs of saliva; possibly longer as it is an observed test. I wish the state could figure out that it should not bet on a single horse. Abbott and Safeguard have tests that have worked well in schools around the state. Why shut them out?
Comment by Suburban mom Wednesday, May 12, 21 @ 12:58 pm
Our school district has been using CovidShield for the last 4 months. The more you test these asymptomatic kids, the more you have to consistently quarantine dozens of “contacts” - even if they continually test negative. So, per CDC, once they test negative, they can go back to their day to day lives, but per IDPH, they can’t go back to school for 14 days.
It’s an epic disaster. The kids spend more time in school quarantine than in school. Plus, kids who have big school events who feel they can’t risk a close contact quarantine, don’t go to school or turn in their saliva leading up to the event.
IDPH needs to figure this out ASAP - especially since all the teachers and those who are actually at risk of the virus should be vaccinated by now
Comment by DuPage Moderate Wednesday, May 12, 21 @ 1:12 pm
$235 million? In just Illinois? Over what time period is this expenditure and whose money are we using?
Comment by Al Wednesday, May 12, 21 @ 1:18 pm
The argument for sending kids back to school was that 1) they don’t get covid 2) should #1 be wrong, and they do get covid, they only get a cold 3) they don’t spread it because they carry small viral loads 4) they definitely don’t spread it to adults, particularly their teachers.
This is what I’ve heard and read, particularly in parent protests at school board meetings before schools opened. Given these beliefs, why spend any money at all on testing? Kids are fine
Comment by A Wednesday, May 12, 21 @ 1:45 pm
I saw something recently that said the school openings increased COVID for reasons independent of the kids: the parents and teachers were having increased contacts/exposures. Regardless, we don’t know what might happen with mutations - while I wouldn’t say “any cost is justifiable” it wouldn’t hurt us to be ahead of the curve for once.
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, May 12, 21 @ 2:29 pm
===$235 million?===
The test is $20 each, so that is 11.75M tests. There are about 2M kids in school, so that is only 6 tests if they all take it. Even if only 20% take it, that is 30 tests. If they test weekly, that just about covers a school year.
Comment by thechampaignlife Wednesday, May 12, 21 @ 3:27 pm
===it will take my 2nd grader a good 45 minutes to come up with 2mLs of saliva===
The UIUC students had similar complaints in the beginning, but now they are pros. Some bring bacon to sniff to get their saliva flowing. The biggest discussion now is funnel or straw to get the saliva into the tube.
Comment by thechampaignlife Wednesday, May 12, 21 @ 3:27 pm
===Given these beliefs, why spend any money at all on testing?===
Because those beliefs are categorically wrong.
Comment by thechampaignlife Wednesday, May 12, 21 @ 3:28 pm
===those beliefs are categorically wrong===
Yep.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, May 12, 21 @ 3:29 pm
===The more you test these asymptomatic kids, the more you have to consistently quarantine dozens of contacts===
That is how it works, and why it has taken so long to deal with this issue. This shows the test is working. We are identifying the asymptomatic, isolating them to prevent any further spread, and isolating potential new infections until they are not a risk. The differences in guidance may be worth addressing, but the issue is not with the test. The alternative is letting the infected continue to spread the virus unknowingly until it mutates or reaches someone who medically cannot get vaccinated.
Comment by thechampaignlife Wednesday, May 12, 21 @ 3:30 pm
===a good 45 minutes ===
LOL
Stop.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, May 12, 21 @ 3:32 pm
Waste of money.
Comment by Blue Dog Wednesday, May 12, 21 @ 8:59 pm