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* The Peoria region is the latest hot spot…
A surge of COVID-19 patients is filling up multiple UnityPoint Health hospitals in central Illinois.
All three of its Peoria-area hospitals — Methodist, Proctor and Pekin — are at capacity, said Jaymee Barra, a spokeswoman for the health care company.
“Other patients needing critical care are being kept in the emergency department until a bed becomes available,” she said. “At the same time, our emergency departments are full and patients needing care are experiencing longer than usual wait times.”
On Wednesday night, UnityPoint had 62 COVID patients, 16 of them in the ICU. Most of the COVID patients, 87%, were unvaccinated, said Barra.
…Adding… Bloomington area as well…
Hospital beds in McLean County are at capacity as health officials report 162 new cases of COVID-19.
Health officials report that 34 McLean County residents are hospitalized due to COVID-19 as 100% of ICU beds, and 99% of total beds are used.
According to a news release, 44 people from outside the county hospitalized with COVID-19 in the twin cities.
* Shaw Media…
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 11,858 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 52 additional deaths Thursday.
It’s the most new cases in a day since December 1, 2020. The state is now averaging more than 8,000 new cases a day for the first time since December 16, 2020.
* Jake Griffin…
State health officials today reported 3,725 COVID-19 patients were being treated in hospitals throughout Illinois.
That’s up 111 patients from Wednesday.
Of those hospitalized, 772 are in intensive care, according to Illinois Department of Public Health records.
IDPH officials also reported 52 more deaths from the virus, as well as 11,858 new cases of the disease statewide.
That brings the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 27,065, while 1,933,291 infections have been diagnosed since the start of the pandemic.
The state’s seven-day case positivity rate is at 4.7%, up from 4.5% the day before.
That’s a hospitalization increase of 547 admissions compared to a week ago. 391 people were on ventilators, which is the most since early January.
* Keep in mind that hospitalizations and deaths are a lagging indicator, which is not acknowledged here…
On Wednesday, Britain announced that it had recorded 78,610 new cases — a daily increase not seen at any point during the pandemic, even during the initial wave of delta. Hospitalizations have increased, too, though at a slower rate, while deaths are at worst flat.
* From the Atlantic…
And even if Omicron is milder, greater transmissibility will likely trump that reduced virulence. Omicron is spreading so quickly that a small proportion of severe cases could still flood hospitals. To avert that scenario, the variant would need to be substantially milder than Delta—especially because hospitals are already at a breaking point. Two years of trauma have pushed droves of health-care workers, including many of the most experienced and committed, to quit their job. The remaining staff is ever more exhausted and demoralized, and “exceptionally high numbers” can’t work because they got breakthrough Delta infections and had to be separated from vulnerable patients, John Lowe told me. This pattern will only worsen as Omicron spreads, if the large clusters among South African health-care workers are any indication. “In the West, we’ve painted ourselves into a corner because most countries have huge Delta waves and most of them are stretched to the limit of their health-care systems,” Emma Hodcroft, an epidemiologist at the University of Bern, in Switzerland, told me. “What happens if those waves get even bigger with Omicron?”
Building on the successes of last week, the State of Illinois and Cook County Health are offering another Sunday of mass vaccination booster clinics in an effort to improve access and availability of the COVID-19 vaccine at a time when new variants and increased transmission levels threaten our most vulnerable residents.
The State of Illinois and Cook County Health will once again operate a one-day mass vaccination booster clinic on Sunday, December 19 at three regionally located clinics within Cook County: Blue Island, Arlington Heights, and North Riverside. Last week’s one-day booster clinics administered 2,886 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, further underscoring the need and demand for this vaccine.
* Meanwhile, the covid cheerleaders have filed another lawsuit…
A class-action lawsuit was filed Dec. 13 by 88 teachers and school staff from across Illinois in opposition to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 school mandates on vaccination, testing and masks.
The lawsuit naming 22 different school districts, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois State Board of Education and the governor as defendants seeks an emergency injunction blocking Pritzker’s health requirements for school personnel.
The challenge in Sangamon County Circuit Court argues the vaccination and testing program violates the state’s Health Care Right of Conscience Act.
“The educators object to the vaccination and testing of the coronavirus as both health care services violate their moral conscience,” the lawsuit states. “Should the educators object to these proposed health care services, the law prohibits the defendants from discriminating against them.”
* More…
* After one year, how are the suburbs and Illinois doing in vaccinations?
* Major Music Acts Are Seeing 20% No-Show Rates at Concerts
* Facing a new flood of COVID patients, Colorado nurses say the stress is unsustainable
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 2:39 pm
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The Joliet Herald printed a story just yesterday, about how cases in Will county are falling.
Looking at the story more closely, the data they were using was from over a week ago and included the gaps in reporting from thanksgiving, using that gap to claim there was a decrease from the week before.
When looking at the actual data from this week, the highest single day case count was far higher than any day in the reported period. The 7 day average was already higher than any point last week. Hospitalizations are also approaching critical in both Will county and region 7 as a whole.
Making matters worse, the local health department simply stops reporting numbers when they go in the wrong direction. A few weeks ago they were posting the declining case rate every single day. They stopped once the rate started increasing.
This is what happens when local news and health departments get taken over by the local chamber of commerce.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 2:46 pm
Vaccinations are critical.
But, as a reminder, hospitals filled to capacity well before Covid. In fact, it usually happened at least once a year. For our community hospital, influenza was usually the driver. And influenza A is back big-time.
Vaccinations are critical. But we can’t be alarmists every time a hospital is full. Hospitals were full before Covid and they will be full after Covid.
Vaccinations are still critical.
Comment by Downstate Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:02 pm
McLean County Hospitals have hit their limit:
https://www.wjbc.com/2021/12/16/hospital-beds-in-mclean-county-hit-capacity-as-officials-report-162-new-cases-of-covid-19/
Comment by The Real Captain Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:03 pm
=== But we can’t be alarmists every time a hospital is full. Hospitals were full before Covid and they will be full after Covid.===
… and yet places like McCormick place weren’t needed in an emergency fix like what was done in the past.
This ain’t no flu.
With 800,000 deaths in two years, denying the strain on hospitals or thinking it’s normal is a dangerous game of chance.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:05 pm
===hospitals filled to capacity well before Covid===
Yeah, sure, nothing to see here, move along.
lol
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:09 pm
I’ve always considered the J&J one dose vaccine the Walmart of COVID vaccines. So glad I got Pfizer for all three of my shots. The CDC has endorsed this view–Pfizer and Moderna are far superior to J&J.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/12/16/22840236/cdc-panel-recommends-pfizer-moderna-vaccines-over-j-j-shot
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:13 pm
And yet the governor sits silent while Rome is starting to burn.
Comment by Smalls Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:26 pm
==And yet the governor sits silent while Rome is starting to burn.==
What exactly would you like him to do at this point?
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:28 pm
Loyola U has now announced a booster requirement for all their students and staff.
https://www.news-gazette.com/coronavirus/loyola-university-students-staff-must-get-covid-19-booster/article_7e3633a9-f86a-54a8-929a-5356755edb01.html
State needs to follow with the booster requirement ASAP. With similar consequences for no booster as there are with no original 2 doses.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:30 pm
IPI cites Center Square but neither of them post the actual lawsuit or name plaintiffs counsel. I wonder who it could be?
Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:32 pm
== the governor sits silent while Rome is starting to burn==
You meant the candidates for Governor, no? I’m not a Democrat (or Republican anymore either) but Pritzker has done more to protect this state and its people than any other elected or wanna-be-elected person.
Comment by Saluki with a Job Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:32 pm
Rome has been burning for 2 years with Pritzker and mainly Dem executives fighting the fire throughout. Meanwhile, GOP politicians have been busy throwing kindling and slicing water hoses throughout.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:35 pm
==but Pritzker has done more to protect this state and its people than any other==
I fully agree with this point, I was very supportive of the Governor’s decisions. But here we are again, where we need leadership on tough decisions, and short of a random tweet encouraging people to get vaccinated or wear masks, crickets from the administration.
Comment by Smalls Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:38 pm
Numerous regions are below 10% ICU bed capacity. Chicago is at 5.9% of ICU beds available (51 out of 861), per the state’s Hospital Utilization page. Do we need to wait for that to get to zero before any steps are taken?
Comment by Smalls Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:42 pm
I know an ER doc who dreads heading into work. They know when they get in they will see patients in the ER that came in 2-3 days ago and the patient is still waiting on a room with more people coming in the door. And we are heading into the holiday gatherings. We literally are watching the trains speeding toward each other, we know they will collide and we are helpless to stop the pending disaster. Mask and Vax. Test if you have the sniffles just in case the “cold/allergy” is the virus.
Comment by illinifan Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:48 pm
=the governor sits silent while Rome is starting to burn=
I guess you missed Niemerg’s screed yesterday or the constant reminders that we’re 1 of 7 states still requiring masks.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:49 pm
===1 of 7 states===
8
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:50 pm
Rich’s story this morning strongly shows that masks help. But even with masks and vaccinations, we are rapidly running out of hospital beds, which would seem to indicate more action is needed prior to actually running out of beds.
Comment by Smalls Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:55 pm
=which would seem to indicate more action is needed prior to actually running out of beds.=
I think what we need are more vaccinated people. And if you have a plan that accomplishes that my guess is that the governor would be all ears.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 3:59 pm
Anyone who says Pritzker isn’t doing anything hasn’t looked at Iowa and what Gov Reynolds is doing there aka nothing. Iowa hospitals are full and she refuses to do the most basic of things to help slow the spread. Here in Illinois I’m thankful we have a Governor that actually cares.
Comment by QCMan Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 4:03 pm
== the governor sits silent while Rome is starting to burn==
Seems every time I hear the Governor speak unless it was about the tornado damage and deaths. He’s encouraging everyone to get vaccinated and wear their masks. Do you want him out giving you your vaccine?
When you have Bailey and DeVore pushing the opposite and spewing misinformation to their followers it doesn’t help. Compared to other Governor’s Pritzker has stayed on top of this pandemic very well.
Comment by Club J Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 4:03 pm
The Governor has given people the tools and instructions. Social distancing, masks, vaccinations. Hospitals have the antibodies, and have learned a lot about treatment.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. Water = masks, social distancing, vaccinations. The people need to take the water. They have chosen not to. I was at a ‘big box’ store today. Even with signs requiring masks, only half the people wore them. The place was busy due to Christmas shopping.
What do you expect the Governor to do? Place our National Guard as security at every building that is not a private home?
Comment by thoughts matter Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 4:13 pm
Large sections of IL were health-care deserts hanging on “by a thread” before the pandemic hit, so it should not be surprising if even a mild spike fills the hospitals up. Add in the ongoing “gray tsunami” of health-care worker retirements, and Illinois (along with other states) is coming into a crisis. We will need billions in funding to create the educational pipeline from high school to health care career. This would be a far better use of State funds than electric-vehicle subsidies.
Comment by Ares Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 4:14 pm
@Smalls
Again I ask, what exactly would you like him to do? He’s doing everything he can do at this point. If your suggesting is that we go back to shutdowns that’s not a serious suggestion. That isn’t happening again. Get the shot. Wear a mask. Be responsible. There isn’t much more that can be done at this point.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 4:17 pm
With regard to the governor’s communication: my experience of late is a little concerning. The last order regarding masks in schools came as a surprise to IDPH and ISBE (according to them) and we are hearing about two developments that haven’t been approved by the governor. But ISBE and IDPH are putting them out there.
My pint is that the ISBE and IDPH and governor’s office seem to be struggling with communication and that needs to get fixed. It has created confusion and some chaos.
I totally support the governor and how he has handled COVID but they need to improve their communication between these very important entities.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 4:27 pm
I’d like to see the evidence that we routinely had full hospitals, cancelled surgeries, and hallway ER in pre-Covid times. Not saying didn’t happen but color me skeptical.
Comment by WestBurbs Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 4:36 pm
We need FDA approval as quickly as possible of Pfizer’s Paxlovid, tests indicate it is 89% effective at keeping covid positive people out of the hospital and no one who took it died. The EU has already allowed use of the drug while their version of the FDA completes its formal analysis, where is our FDA?
Comment by Trying to be Rational Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 4:42 pm
Here’s hoping those 88 teachers’ lawsuit goes nowhere and that they soon lose their jobs. They are a disgrace to the profession.
Comment by Manchester Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 4:57 pm
@3:38 “But here we are again, where we need leadership on tough decisions…”
…such as a mandate to stop holding superspreader events in sports and other types of entertainment.
Comment by Enviro Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 4:58 pm
The Montreal Canadiens will play tonight’s game without fans in the stadium due to a surge in Omicron cases. And their COVID stats are significantly better than our stats.
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 5:00 pm
==where is our FDA==
They just applied for approval less than a month ago. Also, Pfizer has said they won’t have very many pills at first. It will take a little while to produce a large amount. You have to take a lot of pills with this treatment - 30 pills over 5 days.
But, it will hopefully be a game changer once it’s approved and up to full production.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 5:01 pm
With the vaccines, the govt agreed to buy 100 million doses from anyone whose vaccine could meet a modest hurdle. Among other things, that policy allowed manufacturers to begin producing doses while waiting for the FDA approval. The feds should do the same thing with the theraputic so shelves are stocked and pills are available the day the FDA/CDC give the approval. Ramping up the production should already be occurring. IMO.
Comment by Trying to be Rational Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 5:41 pm
==Here’s hoping those 88 teachers’ lawsuit goes nowhere and that they soon lose their jobs. They are a disgrace to the profession.==
Plus that, their pension promises get stripped too. And the money saved for protect those pensions of law abiding state employees.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 6:30 pm
====Pfizer has said they won’t have very many pills at first. I
Pfizer is also going to distribute it more equitably around the world this time at the start. And, of course, there are all sorts of supply chain issues as well. Finally, I would expect it will be, at first, targeted towards those most in need including the immunocompromised who do not have the option of the vaccine or it’s not effective for them (as it should be).
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 6:54 pm
=== Many of these reports fail to mention that many health care workers were let go for refusing the potion.===
Cite please, these “many”, give percentages too. Thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 9:56 pm
=== simple Google search.===
Then you should be able to cite it.
Thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 16, 21 @ 10:13 pm
Maybe the reason these reports aren’t talking about healthcare workers refusing to take the “potion” as you call it is because upwards of 98% are getting the vaccine? And would push comes to shove (or “jab” as you likely call it) the outliers often get “the potion”
https://abcnews.go.com/US/hundreds-hospital-staffers-fired-suspended-refusing-covid-19/story?id=80303408
Comment by Pundent Friday, Dec 17, 21 @ 7:34 am
== what exactly would you like him to do? ==
Capacity limits for large events to start with. We are still putting 20,000 people in the United center. And large superspreader events are happening daily everywhere. That would be a great start. You do realize we have a whole menu of restrictions we have done previously to reduce impacts on hospitals, don’t you?
Comment by Smalls Friday, Dec 17, 21 @ 7:54 am
All three Bears coordinators (offense, defense, special teams) are all out for COVID protocols.
Maybe a glimmer of hope we might win Monday night? Especially if the substitute coordinators are more competent than Nagy and Co.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bears/ct-cb-chicago-bears-covid-19-coordinators-20211216-zhkicsoy7rbbncfhqrufhqqpny-story.html
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Dec 17, 21 @ 8:29 am