KANKAKEE, Ill. – Today marks National COVID-19 Day in the United States, a day dedicated to reflecting on the impact of the pandemic on communities across the world. On this day in 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, setting off a chain of events that drastically altered our way of life.
Since then, we have seen lockdowns, social distancing, and countless other measures put in place to slow the spread of the virus. While the pandemic has been challenging, National COVID-19 Day is also an opportunity to celebrate the resilience of the human spirit. People have come together to support one another, and countless acts of kindness and heroism have emerged in the face of adversity.
As of March 1, 2023, the United States has administered 672.1 million vaccine doses, with about 69.3% of the total population completing a primary series and 16.2% receiving an updated booster dose. However, as of the same date, a total of 1,117,856 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the United States.
To track the spread of the virus, COVID Data Tracker’s Wastewater Surveillance tab is monitoring levels, changes, and detections of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in wastewater at over 1,200 testing sites across the country. Currently, about 62% of sites are reporting moderate to high SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater, with approximately 27% of sites seeing some of the highest levels since December 1, 2021. About 49% of sites are experiencing a decrease in SARS-CoV-2 levels, and about 40% are reporting an increase.
In Kankakee County, there have been 36,649 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in 2020, according to the Kankakee County Health Department. The county has now reported 385 deaths attributed to COVID-19, with three in February 2023.
Statewide, the Illinois Department of Public Health has reported 4,083,292 total cases since the pandemic began in March 2020, with 36,431 confirmed COVID deaths and another 5,065 probable deaths from the disease.
As the world continues to navigate the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, National COVID-19 Day serves as a reminder to keep fighting for our own health and the memories of those we’ve lost.
