Silver Cross Sees COVID-19 Hospitalizations Decrease

NEW LENOX, IL — The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at Silver Cross has decreased over the past month. In November, Silver Cross saw some of its highest numbers of patients when it told Patch it had over 120 COVID-positive patients.

In its spring peak, the hospital saw around 82 patients.

As of Tuesday, data on the hospital website shows there are 76 patients with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 2 persons under investigation awaiting test results. 15 of the patients with COVID-19 are currently in the ICU, and six are currently on a ventilator.

The hospital has a 10.9 percent 7-day positivity rate for its COVID-19 testing.

On Monday, ‎Director Of Marketing and Community Relations Debra Robbins told Patch the hospital is awaiting delivery of its first COVID-19 vaccines.

"Silver Cross Hospital is following the guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for immunizing healthcare workers," she told Patch. "For the last several weeks, a multidisciplinary group of experts with representatives from Pharmacy, Nursing, Employee Health and the Medical Staff have developed a plan to distribute the vaccines in a safe and socially distanced manner when we receive them."

The state of Illinois has received 109,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which was approved last week by the Food and Drug Administration.

"The availability of a vaccine is truly a historic development in the fight against the spread of COVID-19," Robbins said.