Hospitalizations due to COVID 19 continue to rise as the state finds its first case of the Omicron variant. Currently, the state has more than 3,000 people in the hospital with coronavirus.

As more individuals become hospitalized there needs to be someone to care for them and Governor JB Pritzker says the state has been working with health care providers to address any staffing shortages.

The state reported 78 deaths one day this week. The highest statewide daily total since February.