Silver Cross Coronavirus Hospitalizations Double Within A Week

NEW LENOX, IL — Test positivity rates and hospitalizations are on the rise in region 7, which includes Will and Kankakee counties. As of Wednesday, Region 7 has six consecutive days of positivity increase and five days of hospital admission increase.

Coronavirus positivity for the region is currently 6.3 percent, which has increased from 5.4 percent over the last 10 days. Hospital admissions have increased from 6 to 13 during the same time period.

At Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, hospitalizations have doubled when compared to last week. Director of Marketing and Community Relations Debra Robbins told Patch Wednesday that there is currently 31 patients positive for the coronavirus and four persons under investigation.

Last week at this time, the hospital had 12 patients positive for the coronavirus and two people under investigation.

Robbins said none of the current patients are on ventilators at this time.

"Here at Silver Cross, we continue to stress the importance of wearing facemasks, practicing social distancing and handwashing," Robbins said. "We also want to encourage people to seek medical care when they need it. The hospital, care centers and doctors’ offices are safe places to visit. Please don’t delay needed medical care out of fear."

Hospitalizations across the state have jumped 6.8 percent from Tuesday and nearly 12 percent from Monday. As of Tuesday night, 1,974 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state, including 390 in intensive care and 153 on ventilators, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.