Chicago’s travel quarantine list shrinks along with Illinois’ COVID-19 positivity rate — and daily vaccinations  Mitchell Armentrouton May 18, 2021 at 5:39 pm

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported just 25,936 vaccinations were performed Monday, the state’s lowest one-day total in two weeks. 

Illinois’ average statewide COVID-19 testing positivity rate fell to its lowest point in two months Tuesday as officials reported 1,495 new cases of the disease.

They were diagnosed among 58,222 tests to decrease the infection rate to 2.3%, suggesting the virus is spreading at its slowest rate since St. Patrick’s Day.

Significantly improving metrics in most other states mean Chicagoans now have more flexibility to travel without quarantining or showing proof of a negative COVID-19 test, as advised by the city Department of Public Health.

The agency updated its emergency travel quarantine order to include just seven states considered hot spots, from which travelers must self-isolate or have a clean test upon arrival in Chicago: Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado, Florida, Maine, West Virginia, and Washington.

The quarantine order — which hasn’t resulted in any fines in almost a year since it was implemented — doesn’t apply to people who are two weeks removed from their final vaccine dose.

“Chicago’s daily case rate has dropped considerably over the past two weeks but Chicagoans must realize that until you are fully vaccinated, you are still at risk of contracting COVID-19,” the city public health department said in a statement.

But fewer people are signing up for shots each day. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported just 25,936 vaccinations were performed Monday, the state’s lowest one-day total in two weeks.

That’s partly because a data reporting issue left out some doses administered at pharmacies, but vaccine demand has shrunk by more than half in Illinois since mid-April.

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The state hit an all-time high seven-day average of nearly 133,000 shots given per day April 12. That rate is now just 56,593 — as low as it’s been since the end of February, back when scarce supply was the biggest issue facing the state.

About 58% of Illinois residents 16 or older have gotten at least one shot. Almost 38% are fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the virus is still claiming dozens of lives per day. The state reported 21 additional COVID-19 deaths, including those of men in their 40s from Cook and Will counties.

About 1.4 million Illinoisans have tested positive since March 2020 and 22,466 have died.

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