City, health officials: Only 2 ICU beds available in Rockford Monday due to COVID surge

ROCKFORD — City leaders and health officials are urging residents once again to get vaccinated as hospitals fill and positive COVID-19 cases reach an all-time high.

According to Winnebago County Public Health Administrator Sandra Martell, Winnebago County is reporting 1,493 positive cases of COVID-19 from Saturday through Monday. The county is averaging about 500 new cases per day and has had five deaths among residents ages 49 and 96 since Saturday.

Martell said local hospitals are reaching capacity.

As of Monday, there were 219 patients in the hospital with COVID-19, an increase from the 187 patients that were accounted for last week. Of those patients, 45 are in the ICU with 11% of those people being placed on ventilators.

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There are only two ICU beds currently available in Rockford which has forced hospitals to alter routine procedures.

"So if you think you've been boosted or you don't need the vaccine, let's just hope that you're not in an accident. Let's just hope a loved one doesn't have a heart procedure that's needed immediately," Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara said.

Martell said about 90% of hospitalizations can be attributed to the unvaccinated.

"We are at a very pivotal time in our community," Martell said.

McNamara is urging residents who haven't been vaccinated to do so as an act for not only themselves but for those around them as well.

"I would strongly urge everyone to get vaccinated, get boosted, follow very simple things that all of the professionals are telling us from wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, things we learned in third grade that show that you are not a selfish individual," McNamara said.

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According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, about 52% of residents in Winnebago County have been fully vaccinated.

The Winnebago County Health Department announced 588 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, the highest number of cases reported in a single day since the start of the pandemic.

Martell has attributed the spike to the lack of residents who are fully vaccinated but also to the holiday season, something she says has been a trend during the pandemic.

"After every holiday we have seen that bump. This is not a new trend for us," Martell said.

Also during Monday's new conference, Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd and Winnebago County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli shared personal stories about their own battles with COVID-19.

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While their stories shared the common thread of struggling with the virus they differed in their status of vaccination during the time of being ill.

Chiarelli said he was fully vaccinated and asymptomatic when he tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 3, 2021.

Redd was not vaccinated and got sick with the virus in May of 2021. She has since gotten fully vaccinated.

Redd recalled feeling lucky after battling the virus for three weeks and not being able to sleep for days at a time.

"There were times where I thought I was going to give up. I could literally see myself not being here. Wondering what life was going to be like for my kids without their mom," Redd said.

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While Chiarelli had no symptoms when he tested positive he was hit with an onslaught of symptoms within a week.

"I was fully paralyzed from my legs, my arm movement, difficulty breathing. I was coughing up blood. And if it wasn't for my wife who found me on the bedroom floor I probably wouldn't be here today to speak on this," Chiarelli said.

Residents should have confidence that the techniques that are being offered are the best ones available to keep everyone safe, Martell said.

"We know what works," she said. "If we are serious, if we want to protect our livelihoods, our business, our healthcare systems, keep our children in school, we need to double down on our efforts."

Shaquil Manigault: smanigault@gannett.com; @RRstarShaquil

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford ICU only has 2 beds available, officials report Monday