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Illinois COVID Update Today: IL reports 7,709 new cases, 7 deaths; CDPH recommends masks in public indoor spaces

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CHICAGO (WLS) — Illinois reported 7,709 new COVID cases and 7 deaths Friday as the CDC said 9 Chicago-area counties have reached a “medium” risk of transmission.

There have been at least 3,169,315 total COVID cases as of Friday, including at least 33,660 related deaths in the state since the pandemic began.

As of Thursday night, 808 patients in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 66 patients were in the ICU, and 24 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.

A total of 22,018,536 vaccine doses have been administered in Illinois as of Thursday, and 64.76% of the state’s population is fully vaccinated. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 14,163.

Ahead of a busy weekend of Mother’s Day celebrations, officials are urging people to mask up and avoid gatherings altogether if you have any symptoms at all.

Chicago and several suburban counties are now at a “medium” community level, defined by the CDC as having more than 200 new cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days.

“There unfortunately is a misconception that we’re out of this, and so I think people are not as cautious as they were before,” said Dr. Susan Bleasdale, director for infection prevention at UI Health.

Chicago city officials are now strongly recommending masks be worn in indoor public spaces, including on CTA and in CPS schools.

“Everyone should be wearing a mask,” said Dr. Emily Landon, director of infection prevention at UChicago Medicine. “If you’ve got an event coming up that you don’t want to be sick for, a vacation that you don’t want to miss because you’re home with COVID, you need to be wearing a mask all the time.”

For now, it’s still a recommendation and not a requirement. But if hospitalizations continue to climb, that could be on the horizon.

The move to medium level comes ahead of busy Mother’s Day weekend for many with families planning get togethers. Doctors caution rapid tests may not detect COVID if your symptoms are mild.

“You want to be really careful,” Bleasdale said. “If you’re visiting your mother, and there’s someone that is vulnerable, if you’re going to visit them, you may choose to wear a mask the entire time you visit together.”

CDPH also said Chicagoans should also ensure that they and everyone in their social network is up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, test in the setting of any potential COVID-19 symptoms and continue to follow all isolation and quarantine requirements.

Still, CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady said Chicago moving into the “medium” level does not mean a citywide mask mandate, restrictions on public gatherings or reinstatement of vaccination requirements at this time. Arwady said CDPH would consider those measures if the city moved into the “high” community level, “which we aren’t close to reaching in Chicago right now.”

“We obviously don’t want to get there, and exercising some more caution now will help us keep COVID in control in Chicago,” Arwady said.

She added that moving into the “medium” level is not cause for alarm.

“We’ve been expecting to reach the Medium Level for some time now,” said CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady. “It’s not a cause for alarm, since most cases right now are mild and thankfully our COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths remain at or near all-time pandemic lows in Chicago. But it is reason for more caution, and for more care with masking, since more people in Chicago are infected with COVID right now. Remember that people can spread COVID for two days before they develop symptoms, so putting on a mask in public indoor settings is an easy way to help protect our city while we’re at a Medium COVID Level.”

Cook, Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage, Will, DeKalb, Kendall and Winnebago counties have “medium” COVID risk levels, according to the CDC.

“You know, especially that 0 to 19 group, they’re reporting the most cases every day,” said Chris Hoff, with DuPage County Health Dept. “But we are seeing increases in every age group across the community.”

Cook County has a weekly COVID case rate of 259.31 infections per 100,000 people.

Lake County has a weekly COVID case rate of 331.64 infections per 100,000 people.

McHenry County has a weekly COVID case rate of 254.41 infections per 100,000 people.

Kane County has a weekly COVID case rate of 248.68 infections per 100,000 people.

DuPage County has a weekly COVID case rate of 365.69 infections per 100,000 people.

Will County has a weekly COVID case rate of 239.6 infections per 100,000 people.

DeKalb County has a weekly COVID case rate of 275.51 infections per 100,000 people.

Kendall County has a weekly COVID case rate of 251.96 infections per 100,000 people.

Winnebago County has a weekly COVID case rate of 218.35 infections per 100,000 people.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

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Illinois COVID Update Today: IL reports 578 cases, 12 deaths as test positivity climbs

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CHICAGO (WLS) — Illinois public health officials reported 578 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 12 related deaths Tuesday.

There have been 1,397,667 total COVID cases, including 23,336 deaths in the state since the pandemic began.

The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from July 6-13 is at 2.1%. May 30, 2021 was the last time the state’s test positivity was that high.

Chicago COVID vaccine map shows how many residents vaccinated by zip code

As COVID-19 cases rise in Illinois, health officials are tracking the trend to a rise in cases downstate, home to Illinois’ lowest vaccinations rates.

“We are seeing more cases in places where the vaccination rates are lower and that is concerning,” said Dr. Rachel Bernard, medical director, Chicago Department of Public Health.

According to IDPH data, the Southwestern regions of the state are seeing the highest spike. In the span of 30 days, Region 3 climbed from 1% to 5%. Region 4, to almost 8%; and Region 5 seeing a 4-percentage point increase in positivity rates.

“It is beginning but it is not significant enough to overwhelm our hospitals yet, so that is good, but if we continue to follow this path it is possible and something that people should be concerned about,” said Shawnna Wrhine, outreach coordination for the Southern Seven Health Department, which covers the seven counties in the southernmost tip of the state.

Summer camps hit with COVID outbreaks — are schools next?

Within just a week’s time, Southern Seven Health Department saw a 200% increase in COVID cases.

“At this point we are very concerned as to why there is still hesitancy among residents there,” Wrhine said.

The Southern Seven is also home to the county with the lowest vaccination rate in Illinois. In Alexander County, only 14 percent of the people who live there are fully vaccinated.

“There is concern that the vaccine is not effective. That the virus is a hoax,” Wrhine said.

Illinois COVID vaccine map shows how many residents vaccinated by county

With those lower vaccination rates come higher rates of transmission and a greater risk for the more infectious delta variant.

“We are assuming at this point that the delta variant is here. We want residents to be cognizant of that,” Wrhine said.

State health officials are now reporting dozens of new cases of the Delta variant, with 236 total cases of the new strain. Infectious disease experts in Chicago are expecting citywide numbers to rise as well.

“Every time there has been a holiday in the following two to three weeks we have seen an increase in numbers and then 2-3 weeks after we see more hospitalizations,” said Dr. John Segreti, Rush University Medical Center.

Missouri, Arkansas added back on Chicago Travel Advisory amid rise in COVID-19 cases

The delta variant is being blamed for the surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, particularly in Arkansas, where doctors worried the surge there could be the deadliest.

“You can’t ignore the fact that Arkansas has a low vaccination rate compared to other states,” said Dr. Steppe Mette. “And the delta variant is the predominant variant in the state. You put those two together, and you’re in for the perfect storm.”

The delta variant is also a major concern in neighboring state Missouri, where the CDC said the variant makes up nearly 75% of sequenced new cases. And after several weeks with no states on its travel advisory, Chicago’s Department of Public Health announced Arkansas and Missouri have been added back on the list.

“Those cases have gone above the threshold for what we would consider to be at higher risk,” Bernard said.

Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported testing 31.841 specimens for a total of 26,183,998 since the pandemic began.

As of Monday night, 498 patients in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 108 patients were in the ICU and 40 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.

A total of 12,851,005 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of Monday. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 20,794. There were 25,902 vaccines administered in Illinois Monday.

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Chicago COVID: Restrictions may return in suburban Cook County if coronavirus cases continue to rise, health officials say

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CHICAGO (WLS) — Suburban Cook County may be on the brink of having new restrictions imposed after health officials reported a sharp increase in COVID-19 case numbers.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported more than 2,800 new confirmed and probably cases of COVID-19 with hundreds of those in Cook County.

There are fears numbers of cases will be higher after Easter. County leaders warn that if this upward trend does not change, new restrictions could be coming.

Officials are working to figure out what is causing this spike while threatening the possibility of returning restrictions. Cook County Health said that could mean clamping down on indoor activities like going to restaurants and fitness clubs. Meanwhile, officials are asking people to stay outdoors with gatherings, masked up and socially distant as much as possible.

“We’ve seen over 600 new cases in suburban Cook in our jurisdiction alone,” said Dr. Rachel Rubin. “And so that means that we are in the beginnings of another surge.”

Now, county health officials said the uptick in cases could translate to new restrictions imposed if those numbers do not go down.

Cook County Health said the county is on the cusp of another surge. Recent data showed noticeable increases in new cases among people their 20s and 30s, and the positivity rate nearly doubled from the past weeks.

According to recent data, the most significant rise in cases is among the 20s and 30 age group, and the positivity rate nearly doubled from weeks past.

“Our overall positivity rate, I think, is now maybe about five, we were down to three and this is a big problem,” Dr. Rubin said.

Despite the expansion of ongoing vaccination efforts, the rising case numbers have county officials contemplating what needs to be done.

RELATED: Allergies or COVID: How to tell the difference

“We may very well have to clamp down within a matter of days. I’m not promising that one way or another,” Dr. Rubin said. “We need to evaluate exactly what kinds of activities and movements are really pushing this surge.”

That could mean bringing back restrictions on businesses.

“We need to continue to be safe and those are really the messages and if we need to clamp down more on our [mitigation], you know, back off a little bit on indoor kinds of activities and restaurants and fitness clubs and such like that — we hope that it won’t reach that point that we may need to do that,” Dr. Rubin added.

Evanston resident Archie Ong has seen his city go through so many changes over the past year

“It’s going to be a major setback, obviously, a lot of the restaurants here are struggling,” Ong said. “There’s been a number of restaurants that have closed so I hope, I hope it doesn’t happen.”

RELATED: COVID vaccine: Read these tips before getting your shot

He and his family still stay home for the most part and hopes others who may think the worse is over will do the same.

“People are getting vaccinated and thinking it’s safe. I guess it is maybe safe but at the same time I think we shouldn’t really relax that much,” Ong added.

For now, health officials recommend keeping things outdoors while continuing to mask up and keep distance.

Copyright © 2021 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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Health

Chicago COVID: Restrictions may return in suburban Cook County if coronavirus cases continue to rise, health officials say

Leave a comment

CHICAGO (WLS) — Suburban Cook County may be on the brink of having new restrictions imposed after health officials reported a sharp increase in COVID-19 case numbers.

“We’ve seen over 600 new cases in suburban Cook in our jurisdiction alone,” said Dr. Rachel Rubin. “And so that means that we are in the beginnings of another surge.”

Now, county health officials said the uptick in cases could translate to new restrictions imposed if those numbers don’t go down.

According to recent data, the most significant rise in cases is among the 20s and 30 age group, and the positivity rate nearly doubled from weeks past.

“Our overall positivity rate, I think, is now maybe about five, we were down to three and this is a big problem,” Dr. Rubin said.

Despite the expansion of ongoing vaccination efforts, the rising case numbers have county officials contemplating what needs to be done.

RELATED: Allergies or COVID: How to tell the difference

“We may very well have to clamp down within a matter of days. I’m not promising that one way or another,” Dr. Rubin said. “We need to evaluate exactly what kinds of activities and movements are really pushing this surge.”

That could mean bringing back restrictions on businesses.

“We need to continue to be safe and those are really the messages and if we need to clamp down more on our [mitigation], you know, back off a little bit on indoor kinds of activities and restaurants and fitness clubs and such like that — we hope that it won’t reach that point that we may need to do that,” Dr. Rubin added.

Evanston resident Archie Ong has seen his city go through so many changes over the past year

“It’s going to be a major setback, obviously, a lot of the restaurants here are struggling,” Ong said. “There’s been a number of restaurants that have closed so I hope, I hope it doesn’t happen.”

RELATED: COVID vaccine: Read these tips before getting your shot

He and his family still stay home for the most part and hopes others who may think the worse is over will do the same.

“People are getting vaccinated and thinking it’s safe. I guess it is maybe safe but at the same time I think we shouldn’t really relax that much,” Ong added.

For now, health officials recommend keeping things outdoors while continuing to mask up and keep distance.

Copyright © 2021 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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