Hospitalizations from COVID fall 34% in Rockford

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus at the city’s three hospitals has fallen about 34% in the past week, according to the Winnebago County Health Department.

Mercyhealth, OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center and UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital are providing care for 107 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19. That’s down from last week’s report of 162.

This is the fourth straight week that coronavirus hospitalizations in the city have declined after a surge that peaked in early January.

“We now are getting through this major wave or surge of omicron, and hopefully we’re entering into a stage that will be much more peaceful of a pause,” Mayor Tom McNamara said on This Week in the Stateline.

McNamara has frequently spoke alongside public health leaders and doctors throughout the pandemic to urge people to take safety precautions and get vaccinated. He stuck to those pledges this week even as the numbers are trending downward.

It’s a “great time to get vaccinated so we are ready for future surges if they do come,” he said.

Hospitalizations from the coronavirus have been falling across the country and the state over the past few weeks. In Illinois, there were 3,135 people statewide in the hospital with COVID-19 as of Thursday night, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. That’s down 31% from 4,533 at the same time last week.

About 56% of people in Winnebago County are fully vaccinated against COVID, according to the health department. Statewide, about 62% of people are fully vaccinated.

Rockford COVID hospitalizations

The Winnebago County Health Department releases a report each Friday on the total number of hospitalized COVID patients at Rockford’s three hospitals as of the previous Thursday evening.

Feb. 3: 107

Jan. 27: 162

Jan. 20: 169

Jan. 13: 214

Jan. 10*: 219

Dec. 30: 180

Dec. 23: 188

Dec. 16: 188

Dec. 9: 165

Dec. 2: 167

Nov. 25: 129

Nov. 18: 128

Nov. 11: 48

Nov. 4: 65

*Number reported on Monday rather than Friday

Source: Winnebago County Health Department