Chicago-area health officials warn people under the age of 20 are being especially hard-hit by the virus in some locations.
Meanwhile, U.S. regulators have limited those who can receive Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic across Illinois today:
Nearly All Chicago-Area Counties Now Under Medium Alert Level for COVID: CDC
As COVID cases continue to rise in Illinois, nearly all of the Chicago area is now experiencing medium risk levels for the virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Friday, Cook, Kane, McHenry, Lake, DuPage, DeKalb, Kendall and Will counties all were listed under the CDC's "medium community" alert level, the second-highest level on the CDC's scale. At least six other counties in the state - including McLean, Logan, Sangamon, Douglas, Champaign and Winnebago counties - are also at this level.
Here's what that means for you.
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COVID Precautions Recommended in 12% of US Under Chicago Travel Advisory
Approximately 12% of U.S. counties are either considered as medium or high community levels for COVID-19, according to the city of Chicago's travel advisory and the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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For the first time since travel advisory guidance was revised earlier this year, Chicago itself and several suburban counties are listed in the medium category, meaning safety COVID measures are advised in those areas, too. City health officials a week earlier acknowledged the shift was possible, noting it could happen in the coming weeks.
Read more here.
Coronavirus in Illinois: 30K New Cases, 46 Deaths in Last Week As Counties Rise to Medium COVID Risk
Illinois health officials reported 30,633 new COVID-19 cases over the past week, along with 46 additional deaths. While cases have increased, deaths have stayed the same.
The previous week, the state reported 24,646 new and 46 deaths. The week before that, the state reported 19,551 new cases and 58 deaths were reported.
Over the past seven days, the state’s weekly vaccination average dropped to 14,163 doses, per IDPH data. Since last Friday, 99,144 doses were administered across the state.
Read more here.
Chicago ‘Strongly Recommending' People Wear Masks Indoors as City Moves Into Medium COVID Risk Level
As Chicago moves from "low" to "medium" COVID-19 risk due to an increasing number of cases, city health officials are "strongly recommending" that people wear a mask in public, indoor spaces.
Over the last seven days, Cook County and Chicago combined recorded 259 COVID cases per 100,000 residents, which caused the area to move over the 200-case threshold for medium risk level.
Read more here.
Chicago, Cook County Move From ‘Low' to ‘Medium' COVID Risk Level: CDPH
Both Chicago and Cook County have moved from "low" to "medium" risk for COVID-19, the Chicago Department of Public Health announced Friday, as cases continue to rise across the area.
Due to the move, CPDH officials are "strongly recommending" wearing a face covering in public, indoor spaces. Chicagoans are also encouraged to stay up-to-date on vaccinations and booster shots, as well as test for the virus should any symptoms appear.
Read more here.
What to Know About ‘Medium Community Level' For COVID-19, According to CDC
With nearly every Chicago-area county having reached the "medium community level" for COVID-19, per guidance set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, what does that mean for you?
Here's what the CDC recommends for counties under a medium alert level.
Nearly All Chicago-Area Counties Now Under Medium Alert Level for COVID: CDC
As COVID cases continue to rise in Illinois, nearly all of the Chicago area is now experiencing medium risk levels for the virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Friday, Cook, Kane, McHenry, Lake, DuPage, DeKalb, Kendall and Will counties all were listed under the CDC's "medium community" alert level, the second-highest level on the CDC's scale. At least six other counties in the state - including McLean, Logan, Sangamon, Douglas, Champaign and Winnebago counties - are also at this level.
Read more here.
COVID Symptoms in Children: Signs to Watch as Officials Warn Kids Getting Hit Hard by Virus
As Chicago-area health officials warn people under the age of 20 are being especially hard-hit by the virus, many parents are likely wondering what symptoms they should be aware of in children and teens.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children have similar symptoms to adults, and in many cases experience milder illness.
"While children are as likely to get COVID-19 as adults, kids are less likely to become severely ill," the Mayo Clinic reports. "Up to 50% of children and adolescents might have COVID-19 with no symptoms. However, some children with COVID-19 need to be hospitalized, treated in the intensive care unit or placed on a ventilator to help them breathe."
Read more here.
FDA Restricts J&J's COVID-19 Vaccine Due to Blood Clot Risk
U.S. regulators on Thursday strictly limited who can receive Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine due to the ongoing risk of rare but serious blood clots.
The Food and Drug Administration said the shot should only be given to adults who cannot receive a different vaccine or specifically request J&J's vaccine. U.S. authorities for months have recommended that Americans get Pfizer or Moderna shots instead of J&J's vaccine.
Read more here.
COVID Cases, Hospitalizations on the Rise in DuPage County, Officials Say
Health officials in suburban DuPage County are warning residents that COVID cases and hospitalizations are on the rise in the area, with residents under the age of 20 being especially hard-hit by the spread of the virus.
According to the latest data provided by the DuPage County Health Department, the county is now reporting 259 new cases of COVID per 100,000 residents per week.
Read more here.
1 Million Deaths and Counting: COVID-19 Has Now Claimed the Lives of 1 Million Americans
During the first few bewildering weeks of 2020, as medical workers and public health officials grappled with a devastating novel coronavirus that swept small towns and large cities alike, the White House predicted that at least 100,000 to 240,000 Americans could die of the virus in the best-case scenario.
The first reported U.S. COVID-19 death was on February 29, 2020. A month later, the day Dr. Deborah Birx announced the sobering prediction, the death toll had already surpassed 5,000 dead Americans.
Read more here.
COVID vs. Allergies: How Can You Tell the Difference in Symptoms?
With high levels of tree pollen now in the air and highly-contagious COVID variants spreading this spring, it can be increasingly difficult to identify the reason behind your runny nose or fatigue.
"Now with COVID and all the different strains becoming a little bit milder, people are getting confused with the symptoms," said Dr. Ruchi Gupta, professor of pediatrics and medicine for Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine.
Read more here.
The CDC Still Recommends You Wear a Mask on Planes and Trains
U.S. health officials on Tuesday restated their recommendation that Americans wear masks on planes, trains and buses, despite a court ruling last month that struck down a national mask mandate on public transportation.
Americans age 2 and older should wear a well-fitting masks while on public transportation, including in airports and train stations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended, citing the current spread of coronavirus and projections of future COVID-19 trends.
Read more here.
COVID Vaccines for Kids Under 5: When Could Shots Begin? The Latest Timing
As Moderna took the next step forward toward getting the first COVID vaccination authorized for children under the age of 5, when could parents expect shots to begin?
Frustrated families are waiting impatiently for a chance to protect the nation’s littlest kids as all around them people shed masks and other public health precautions -- even though highly contagious coronavirus mutants continue to spread.
The nation’s 18 million children under 5 are the only age group not yet eligible for vaccination.
While the race is on to get the youngest members of the population vaccinated, which vaccine will work best and when might one be approved?
How Long Are You Contagious With COVID and How Soon Could Symptoms Start? Here's What to Know
If you test positive for coronavirus or were exposed to someone who has, when could symptoms start, how long are you contagious, how long should you quarantine for and when should you get tested?
With COVID cases slowly 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.
Illinois has seen new cases of the virus increase by more than 40% in the last week.
Read more here.
How Soon After Exposure Do COVID Symptoms Start?
As cases of the coronavirus climb in Illinois and across the country due in part to the now-dominant BA.2 omicron subvariant, the risk for being exposed to someone with COVID is also increasing. But when might symptoms first appear following a potential exposure?
Some experts say the omicron variant "sped up" timing for what many once knew with COVID, including the incubation period, or the time between exposure and the start of symptoms. Late last year, guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surrounding quarantine and isolation were updated to reflect that change.
Read more here.
CDC Guidelines For COVID Exposure: What to Know About Quarantine Times, Symptoms
After you've been exposed to or test positive for COVID-19, how long should you quarantine from others and when could symptoms appear?
As cases, and now deaths and hospitalizations as well, slowly rise 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.
Here's a look at the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on what to do if you test positive or believe you were exposed to someone who has. This guidance was most recently updated at the end of March.
