Cook County’s Public Health Department issued a warning Friday afternoon saying “an increase in the number of positive cases” raised the county to its second-highest risk level, as set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although the county was not included in the CDC’s most recent transmission risk update, CCDPH said its measurements from Thursday indicate suburban areas are below the “medium” level of risk. The county reported 210 cases per 100,000 residents on Thursday in the last seven days. The name means that the elderly or immunocompromised are required to wear masks indoors, but health officials now recommend to residents:
Wear a mask indoors to protect those at high risk for serious illness from COVID infection, including adults over 50, those with underlying medical conditions and those with immunosuppressed socialize outdoors if possible and avoiding poorly ventilated indoor settings take an exam before attending a family or public event. Home tests are ideal for this purpose Contact your doctor immediately for treatment for COVID if you are diagnosed receive any COVID-19 vaccine boosters for which you qualify
According to the latest CDC update on Friday, two other counties in the Chicago area were also in the medium risk category. Lake County was added this week, and County DuPage rose to the level last week and stayed there once again this week. In addition to DuPage and Lake County, the Champaign, McLean, and Logan counties in Illinois are also included in the CDC’s “Medium” Transmission Risk Level. The rest of Illinois remained low, according to the CDC. In places with low transmission to the community, residents are encouraged to stay up to date with COVID vaccines and boosters and to maintain improved indoor ventilation whenever possible. As of Friday, no community is reported to have a high broadcast. Countries that do reach a high community level are encouraged to resume mask use for all individuals indoors, regardless of vaccination status, and to consider avoiding unnecessary indoor activities. Illinois health officials reported 24,646 new COVID-19 cases last week, along with 46 additional deaths. This is an increase in cases, but a decrease in deaths from this period last week.
