THE STATE'S TOP PUBLIC HEALTH DOCTOR SAYS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS RIGHT NOW IS THE SURGE IN COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS. 

ABOUT 220 PEOPLE WITH COVID-19 ARE BEING ADMITTED TO ILLINOIS HOSPITALS EACH DAY, THE HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE MAY. STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR DOCTOR NGOZI (en-gahzi) EZIKE (eh-zee-kay) SAYS THE SITUATION IS VERY SERIOUS IN MANY AREAS OF THE STATE. TAKE REGION FIVE, FAR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS WHERE THE VACCINATE RATE IS THE LOWEST. EZIKE SAYS ONLY ONE I-C-U BED WAS AVAILABLE AS OF TUESDAY.

DOCTOR EZIKE (eh-zee-kay) SAYS MOST HOSPITALS ARE REACHING CAPACITY, WITH REGION FIVE, FAR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, ONLY HAVING ONE I-C-U BED AS OF TUESDAY.

AND GOVERNOR J-B PRITZKER SAYS IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SPACE, THERE ALSO AREN'T ENOUGH HEALTH CARE WORKERS TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND.