IDPH: COVID-19 hospitalizations, cases up in Rockford area, Chicago – WREX-TV

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WREX) Illinois has not met the metrics to move to the bridge phase of reopening and the Stateline is part of the reason why.

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On Friday, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced the state has seen 10 days of increases in the seven-day rolling average for hospital admissions.

The COVID-19 test positivity on March 10 was 2.5%. Todays reported test positivity is 3.3%.

IDPH says while these rates are certainly significantly lower than the peak, they represent a potential early warning sign about a possible resurgence, according to IDPH.

READ MORE: Illinois deploying rapid response vaccination teams in Region 1

Region 1, the northern portion of the state including Rockford and surrounding communities, has seen eight days of increasing hospital bed usage and six days of increasing test positivity.

Meanwhile, Chicago has seen its daily case rate increase by nearly 50% since last week, along with six days of increases in test positivity.

Suburban Cook County has seen its daily case rate increase more than 40%, along with nine days of increasing hospital bed usage.

To advance into theBridge Phasethat is the final step before the full reopening, the entire state must achieve several metrics:

70% of residents 65 years and older must have received a first dose;Hospitals must maintain 20% or greater ICU bed availability;Hospitalizations for COVID-19, admissions for COVID-like illness and deaths must hold steady or decline over a 28-day monitoring period.

As outlined in the March 18 update to the Restore Illinois plan, IDPH will evaluate statewide performance against the metrics by looking back at the data from the preceding 28 days.

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While Illinois is on pace to reach 70% first doses for residents 65 years and older in the coming days, IDPH is monitoring an increase in new hospital admissions for COVID, which will need to be appropriately addressed and resolved before moving into the Bridge Phase.

IDPH epidemiologists will continue to focus on the most recent 10 days to monitor any acute trends that prevent the state from reaching the Bridge Phase.

Statewide reopening metrics can be found here.

IDPH also say they've seen vaccine demand slow in several counties throughout the state, with early signs of unfilled appointments and increased vaccine inventory.

IDPH is authorizing those communities to begin vaccinating all residents 16 and older at their immediate discretion, in order to use the vaccine doses they currently have available.

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IDPH: COVID-19 hospitalizations, cases up in Rockford area, Chicago - WREX-TV