New cases in Illinois at highest level in more than a year

Illinois health officials on Monday reported the highest number of new daily COVID-19 infections in the state since Dec. 1, 2020. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 12,328 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, a yearlong high for the state. The Chicago Tribune noted, however, that the day’s results could be inflated due to reporting delays caused by the holidays.

The uptick in infections comes amid heightened concerns over the new omicron variant, discovered in South Africa last month, which has now been detected in almost every U.S. state.

As of Monday, Illinois had reported 17 omicron cases, as the delta variant remained the state’s dominant strain with over 21,000 reported cases. About 68 percent of the state’s eligible population is fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus. 

As cases rise throughout the state, hospitals are struggling, as Illinois reported the lowest levels of bed availability since summer 2020. Hospital systems in the state have reported bed availability rates as low as 7 percent. 

Some have attributed the bed shortages to hospital staffers leaving for higher paying jobs or because of burnout, in addition to an increase in non-COVID-19 ailments. 

Meanwhile, students in Chicago’s Public School system have also seen record-setting numbers of infections this month, and the school system currently has over 7,500 students and adults in quarantine or isolation, according to data from the city.

While the Tribune reported that at-home tests were picked over or out of stock at drug stores in the Chicago area, the Biden administration plans to announce steps on Tuesday to increase the availability and affordability of at-home COVID-19 tests.