How many of 85-plus COVID cases at a central Illinois church camp required hospitalization?
RUSHVILLE  The number of positive COVID-19 tests registered daily in the United States has become standard news the past 16 months. But at this point in the pandemic, with a majority of Illinois adults fully vaccinated, a more targeted statistic can be how many of those reported tests resulted in hospitalizations or deaths. Case in point: a COVID-19 outbreak that took place last month at a church camp southwest of Peoria. At least 85 cases of the virus were reported among children and adults at Crossing Camp, located about 4 miles southwest of Rushville in Schuyler County. Only one person was hospitalized, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Emergency treatment was sought by two. It wasn't clear if the hospitalized patient was one of them. The IDPH reported those totals Tuesday in response to a Journal Star inquiry for additional details regarding the outbreak. Previously:At least 85 COVID-19 cases now linked to outbreak at central Illinois summer camp  COVID-19 exposures took place between June 13 and June 17 at the camp, according to the Schuyler County Health Department. State officials reported only a handful of attendees and staff had received vaccines. Masks were not required indoors. Those between ages 12 and 15 only became eligible for vaccination in May. About half of those infected in the Crossing Camp outbreak, 42 in all, are Adams County residents, according to the IDPH. Quincy is the county seat. McDonough County accounted for seven cases, Brown County for six and Morgan County for five. Champaign, Greene, Hancock, Mason, Pike and Warren counties accounted for fewer than five cases each. Specific numbers for those counties were not provided. Another 15 positive tests were among out-of-state residents. Slightly more than 54% of Illinoisans aged 12 and older were fully vaccinated as of Wednesday morning, according to the IDPH. Among those 18 and older, 57% were fully vaccinated. Crossing Camp is affiliated with The Crossing, a non-denominational Christian church based in Quincy. The church has 11 locations in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. Among the locations are ones in Macomb and Monmouth. The event held June 13-17 at the 29-acre Rushville-area facility was for eighth-graders through high school seniors, according to the camp website. "There will be gifted speakers and worship leaders to make Student Camp a powerful and life-changing event," the website stated. Another two overnight camps preceded the Student Camp  June 4-7 for children in sixth and seventh grades, and June 11-12 for second- and third-graders. A day camp for kindergarten and first-grade students is scheduled for July 17. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, an overnight camp for fourth- and fifth-graders was postponed until Aug. 12-15, a website notice stated. The city forgot  Crossing Camp officials did not respond to an email that asked how many children and adults participated in the Student Camp. According to the camp website, the facility has lodging for up to 350 people, a 500-seat auditorium, a commercial kitchen, a swimming pool, a recreation center, an NBA-quality gymnasium and a blacklight arena for laser tag and mini-golf.