COVID by the Numbers: Most of Chicago Area Still at ‘High’ Community Levels of the Virus

Most of the Chicago area is still at a “high” community level of COVID-19, according to the latest data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Thursday.

According to that data, most of northern Illinois falls in that category, including Cook County and the city of Chicago.

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LaSalle and Kankakee counties are both at a “medium” community level of the virus, as are Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties in northwest Indiana, according to federal officials.

Under the CDC’s current system of classifying the risk factor of different counties across the country, a community level of low, medium or high is assigned to each county.

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COVID-19 Community Levels – Use the Highest Level that Applies to Your Community
New COVID-19 CasesPer 100,000 people in the past 7 days	Indicators	Low	Medium	High
Fewer than 200	New COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population (7-day total)	<10.0	10.0-19.9	≥20.0
Percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients (7-day average)	<10.0%	10.0-14.9%	≥15.0%
200 or more	New COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population (7-day total)	NA	<10.0	≥10.0
Percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients (7-day average)	NA	<10.0%	≥10.0%

Counties at a “high” community level are seeing elevated levels of COVID-19 hospitalizations, percentages of staffed beds being taken up by COVID patients, or dramatic increases in overall case numbers.

Residents in those counties are advised to take precautions against the virus, including wearing masks in indoor spaces and staying away from large gatherings if they are immunocompromised or have other common risk factors for severe illness if they contract COVID.

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Here are the latest numbers for the counties that comprise the NBC 5 viewing area.

Illinois

McHenry County (High)

Case Rate Per 100,000 Residents: 239.46

New COVID Admissions Per 100,000 Residents: 12.5

Percentage of Staffed Beds Occupied by COVID Patients: 4.6%

Lake County (High)

Case Rate Per 100,000 Residents: 288.14

New COVID Admissions Per 100,000 Residents: 12.5

Percentage of Staffed Beds Occupied by COVID Patients: 4.6%

DeKalb County (High)

Case Rate Per 100,000 Residents: 276.46

New COVID Admissions Per 100,000 Residents: 10

Percentage of Staffed Beds Occupied by COVID Patients: 4.4%

Kane County (High)

Case Rate Per 100,000 Residents: 256.57

New COVID Admissions Per 100,000 Residents: 10

Percentage of Staffed Beds Occupied by COVID Patients: 4.4%

DuPage County (High)

Case Rate Per 100,000 Residents: 270.01

New COVID Admissions Per 100,000 Residents: 12.5

Percentage of Staffed Beds Occupied by COVID Patients: 4.6%

If you were exposed to COVID or test positive as the new BA.5 variant continues its spread across the U.S. and the globe, what do you need to do and has that guidance changed?

Cook County (High)

Case Rate Per 100,000 Residents: 243.78

New COVID Admissions Per 100,000 Residents: 12.5

Percentage of Staffed Beds Occupied by COVID Patients: 4.6%

LaSalle County (Medium)

Case Rate Per 100,000 Residents: 259.5

New COVID Admissions Per 100,000 Residents: 7.7

Percentage of Staffed Beds Occupied by COVID Patients: 2.7%

Kendall County (High)

Case Rate Per 100,000 Residents: 313.2

New COVID Admissions Per 100,000 Residents: 10

Percentage of Staffed Beds Occupied by COVID Patients: 4.4%

Grundy County (High)

Case Rate Per 100,000 Residents: 221.33

New COVID Admissions Per 100,000 Residents: 12.1

Percentage of Staffed Beds Occupied by COVID Patients: 5.8%

Will County (High)

Case Rate Per 100,000 Residents: 256.82

New COVID Admissions Per 100,000 Residents: 12.1

Percentage of Staffed Beds Occupied by COVID Patients: 5.8%

Kankakee County (Medium)

Case Rate Per 100,000 Residents: 207.53

New COVID Admissions Per 100,000 Residents: 8.8

Percentage of Staffed Beds Occupied by COVID Patients: 1.8%

While several Illinois counties remain under a high community level for COVID, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which locations are seeing the highest rates?