More Illinois counties are now under a "high" alert level for COVID, but some in the Chicago area have dropped back to medium, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest update.
Plus, new updates were released surrounding potential COVID vaccines for kids under the age of 5.
Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic across Illinois today:
Coronavirus in Illinois: 32K New Cases, 47 Deaths in Last Week With 19 Counties at High Level
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Illinois health officials reported 32,605 new COVID-19 cases over the past week, along with 47 additional deaths, marking slight declines in cases from seven days prior as 19 counties across the state reach a "high" community level of COVID.
The previous week, the state reported 36,843 new cases and 45 deaths. The week before that, the state reported 40,193 new cases and 56 deaths were reported.
Read more here.
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19 Illinois Counties at 'High' Alert Level for COVID, Some in Chicago Area Drop to Medium
Nineteen Illinois counties, including several in the Chicago area, are now under a “high community level” for COVID, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The number of counties at the "high" level marks an increase from last week's 15, but some Chicago-area counties that were under a high alert level last week have since dropped down to medium.
See the full list here.
COVID Vaccines for Kids Under 5: When Could Shots Begin? The Latest Timing
With federal regulators set to decide whether or not they plan to authorize COVID vaccines for kids under the age 5 this month, when might parents expect shots to begin?
Families have been for a chance to protect the nation’s littlest kids as highly contagious omicron subvariants continue to spread.
The nation’s 18 million children under 5 are the only age group not yet eligible for vaccination.
Read more here.
How Long Are You Protected After Getting COVID and Can You Get COVID Twice?
If you recently contracted COVID, how long are you protected and are you at risk of getting the virus again?
The question has been asked since the start of the pandemic, but as the virus continues to mutate, the answers have changed.
Omicron, for example, led to a major shift in "natural immunity," with many who had previously been infected susceptible to reinfection with the new version of the virus.
Now, as omicron makes up nearly all U.S. COVID cases, it's a question of how protection from one version of omicron will work against newer subvariants.
Read more here.
Jewel-Osco Stores Reinstate Mask Mandate for Employees Due to High COVID Transmission in Illinois Counties
As a new subvariant of omicron continues to spread across the country and COVID cases continue an uptick in Illinois, Jewel-Osco stores are asking employees to once again wear masks.
"Jewel-Osco continues to follow the guidelines set by the CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health," a spokesperson from Jewel-Osco said in an email statement to NBC 5. "Due to current high COVID transmission rates in the counties where we have stores, the Distribution Center, and the corporate office we are requiring associates and vendors to wear a mask."
As of Tuesday, 15 counties in Illinois are currently at "high community transmission.
Read more here.
Map: These Illinois Counties Are at ‘High Community Level' of COVID
As a new subvariant of omicron continues to spread around the United States, more than a dozen Illinois counties are currently seeing a “high community level” of COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Those 15 counties include a few of the state’s most populous areas, including Cook, Will and DuPage counties in the Chicago area, as well as Peoria and Tazewell counties in the central portion of the state.
See the map here.
How Long Do COVID Symptoms Last? Here's What We Know So Far
For those who test positive for COVID and experience symptoms, how long could they last?
With COVID cases rising in Illinois and parts of the U.S., local health officials have issued warnings to take precautions, particularly in areas where transmission risk is increasing.
But for those who experience symptoms, the length of time they could last remains unclear.
Read more here.
Will Mask Mandates Return? What to Know as 15 Illinois Counties Elevated to ‘High' COVID Level
Masks are now recommended in the city of Chicago and 15 Illinois counties that have been elevated to a "high community level" status ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.
In line with metrics criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suburban Cook, McHenry, Lake, DuPage, Grundy and Will counties are all at a "high community level" for COVID-19, meaning masks are encouraged regardless of one's vaccination status.
Read more here.
How Accurate Are At-Home COVID Tests? Here's What to Know
If you think you were exposed to COVID or might have it, how accurate are the results of an at-home test?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "positive results from self-tests are highly reliable."
Negative results, however, may not rule out infection, particularly in those with COVID-19 symptoms, the CDC states.
"If it's positive, it's positive, like we don't worry about false positives," Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said Thursday.
Read more here.
Paxlovid: What Are The Side Effects of Pfizer's Antiviral COVID Pill?
More and more people across Illinois are testing positive for COVID-19, and Chicago is expected to soon enter a "high" alert level under guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And, according to the CDC, the new subvariant of omicron is now the dominant strain of COVID in the United States, with BA.2.12.1 responsible for nearly 58% of new cases over the last week.
As more cases are reported and the illness continues to spread, many are turning to questions over treating the virus with Pfizer's new Paxlovid antiviral COVID-19 pill.
Read more here.
COVID Incubation Period: How Long Should You Quarantine With Infection?
As COVID-19 cases continue to spread across Chicago ahead of the Memorial Day Weekend, there may be lingering questions over the quarantine period and how long patients are contagious.
On Tuesday, Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said the city could reach a "high" alert level by the end of the week.
Here's the latest information from the CDC.
Here's What to Do If You Test Positive for COVID as Cases Climb
With cases rising and several Chicago-area counties nearing a high alert level from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, what should you do if you test positive for coronavirus or were exposed to someone who has?
"I'm guessing a lot of you know somebody who has had COVID recently," Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said in a Facebook Live Tuesday.
How Long Can You Test Positive for COVID Following Infection?
If you test positive for COVID, how long could that last?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some people who contract COVID-19 can have detectable virus for up to three months, but that doesn't mean they are contagious.
When it comes to testing, however, the PCR tests are more likely to continue picking up the virus following infection.
Read more here.
When Are You Contagious With COVID and How Long Should You Quarantine?
COVID-19 cases have been on the rise across Chicago and the city's top doctor said the trend will likely continue in coming weeks, sparking questions from concerned residents.
Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, says that the city's positivity rate has soared to nearly 5% in recent weeks, and she expects metrics to continue to rise in the coming days.
Read more here.
CDC COVID Guidelines 2022: Symptoms to Watch for, How Long to Quarantine and More
With new, more contagious variants of COVID-19 spreading across the U.S. and nearly all of the Chicago area rising to a higher alert level, many are wondering what to do if they experience symptoms or test positive for the virus.
If you were exposed, when could symptoms start, how long are you contagious, how long should you quarantine for and when is the best time test?
Read more here.
