JOLIET – Since October 31st, Will County Health Department has reported over 2,800 new cases and 19 newly reported COVID deaths in Will County.
During the week of October 26th, 376 new cases came from Joliet zip codes with Plainfield (331) and Bolingbrook (197) rounding out the top three zip codes reporting cases for the week.
According to reports first made by a Will County radio station, the Illinois Nurses Association is reporting nurses are understaffed and facing a burden in cases. Joliet nurses are facing a 1-4 patient ratio in the ICU. At least five nurses in one unit at St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet came down with COVID-19 in October.
Earlier this summer, 700 nurses at the Joliet hospital went on strike for two weeks before returning to work after staffing level issues were not addressed. At the time, Pat Meade, a nurse and head negotiator for the Union said it was ‘quite clear’ AMITA would not meet the Union’s demands.
Neighboring Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox was treating 76 patients for COVID related issues Thursday, with 38 residents hospitalized in Kankakee. Statewide, 772 patients occupied beds for COVID-19 in Illinois, with 343 residents on ventilators Thursday afternoon.
Region 7 has been in a rolling-seven-day positivity rating in double digits since October 26th. Thursday, the region set another new daily reporting record of 13.4%. Region 7 has set a new record or matched a previous day’s record for positivity since October 19th.
The previous high in Region 7 was 8.8% set in late August.
