Illinois Department of Public Health

Here are the top headlines you need to know as you start your day on Dec. 2, 2021.

After the first coronavirus case linked to the newly discovered omicron variant was recorded in California Wednesday, health officials said the COVID-19 threat will likely travel to Illinois.

The state of Illinois has started administering doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at five community-based testing sites throughout the state, health officials announced Friday.

Illinois health officials issued a warning Thursday to hunters of tickborne illnesses as the season opens, reminding that the insects can carry a host of diseases.

After Illinois recorded its first human case of rabies in nearly 70 years this week, the Illinois Department of Public Health released guidance on what to should residents find bats in their homes.

The first human case of rabies has been reported in Illinois since 1954, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The first human case of rabies has been reported in Illinois since 1954, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

For at least the second time this week, one of Illinois’ health care regions has reported no available intensive care unit beds, a problem that has resulted in what one medical advocacy group referred to as “a public health emergency of epic proportions.”

There are at least 81 reported COVID outbreaks in Illinois schools as of Friday, including 34 in the Chicago area, according to newly-released data from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Macoupin County has reported two outbreaks, including one involving at least 16 or more COVID cases at Staunton Community USD #6. That outbreak occurred via transmission of the virus in classrooms, according to officials, and involves cases among staff and students. Another outbreak involving 16 or more cases was reported in Clinton County, located near St. Louis. There, more than…

The Illinois Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have announced the findings of an investigation into an outbreak of COVID-19 cases that occurred following an overnight church camp and a two-day men’s conference, both of which were held by the same organization earlier this summer.

While classes resumed for Chicago Public Schools students Monday, some parents have expressed worries about safety protocols and the rising number of COVID cases. NBC 5’s Kate Chappell reports.

At least two students who attend Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300 have been hospitalized for COVID-19 and another 48 have tested positive for the virus, according to the district’s superintendent.

We thought we could control the pandemic with about 70% of the country vaccinated. But with the Delta variant leading to case surges even in highly vaccinated countries, that changes the math. We may need 90% to take the COVID-19 vaccine to really wrangle with this variant, says Alabama epidemiologist Dr. Suzanne Judd.

Thirty-seven Illinois counties and Chicago are now at “warning level” for intensive care unit bed availability, according to COVID-19 data from the state health department.

More than 160 people have died and nearly 650 have been hospitalized in Illinois due to COVID-19 in “breakthrough” cases after they were fully vaccinated, according to state health officials.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is “fully adopting” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated masking guidance, the state’s health department said Tuesday, recommending that fully vaccinated people begin wearing masks indoors again in places with substantial and high transmission.

The number of daily COVID-19 cases in Illinois has tripled since the beginning of July, a period of just three weeks, according to data from the state’s Department of Public Health. An average 303 daily cases were reported for the week ending July 2. On Friday, IDPH reported a daily average of 1,140 cases. In all, Illinois saw 7,983 new…

More than 150 people have died and nearly 600 have been hospitalized in Illinois due to COVID-19 in “breakthrough” cases after they were fully vaccinated, according to state health officials.

At least 151 people have died and more than 500 have been hospitalized in Illinois due to COVID-19 in “breakthrough” cases after they were fully vaccinated, according to state health officials. What is a breakthrough COVID case, how common are they and how are they being tracked? Here’s what you should know.