Illinois reports 7,037 more COVID-19 cases, 96 new deaths

New cases of COVID-19 totaled 7,037 with 96 additional deaths from the respiratory disease, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported Thursday.

The state's total to date is 925,107 cases, including 15,643 deaths, across 102 counties.

The positivity rate for COVID-19 cases measured 7.2%, based on a seven-day average, down from 7.5% on Wednesday and 8.4% a week ago.

As of last night, 4,488 patients in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19, officials said. Of those, 944 patients were in the ICU and 518 patients were on ventilators.

Statewide, there were 654 ICU beds available, out of 3,279, and 4,145 ventilators available, out of 5,703.

The numbers came a day after Illinois Director of Public Health Ngozi Ezike asked people to celebrate the holidays at home, with people they currently live with, and to otherwise take the utmost precautions to avoid another surge in cases.

Illinois had given a COVID-19 vaccine to 100,991 health care workers and the state is preparing for a second inoculation rollout in nursing homes next week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday.

The state has performed a total 12,782,980 COVID-19 tests since the pandemic began.

Ezike on Wednesday thanked health care providers, teachers and first responders for their work during the pandemic.

"Yes, there is a long road to go, but we are truly at the beginning of the end," she said.