The Illinois Department of Public Health stated that, in the past week, 20,896 new cases of COVID-19 emerged in Illinois. Since Feb. 11, there have been 417 deaths and the statewide positivity rate is 2.4%. 

Illinois COVID-19 cases were at their highest on Jan. 24 when 64,641 new cases were reported for that day with a seven-day average of 35,517 cases, according to the IDPH. Currently, 88% of cases in Illinois are attributed to the Omicron variant.

The IDPH also announced that due to decreased demand, community-based testing sites are now going to be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays starting the weekend of Feb. 18. Hours of operation will remain the same. For more information on testing sites and their hours of operation, visit the IDPH website COVID-19 testing page.

The reason for this decreased demand can be attributed to a wide availability of free, at-home COVID-19 tests, which can be ordered at covidtests.gov. 

Illinois’ vaccinated population has also been increasing. In the state, 76% of residents have gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine with 67% of the population now fully vaccinated and 48% receiving a booster, according to the CDC.

For more information on receiving vaccines, visit www.vaccines.gov.