 According to the CDC, 50 counties are now rated at
High Community Level for COVID-19, an area that includes most of the
counties in northern Illinois as well as counties around Peoria,
Champaign, Springfield and Quincy. An additional 44 counties in
Illinois are now rated at Medium Community Level.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,496,014 cases, including
34,257 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois since the beginning of
the pandemic.
As of last night, 1,424 individuals in Illinois were reported to be
in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 152 patients were in the
ICU and 42 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. The
preliminary seven-day statewide case rate is 260 COVID-19 cases per
100,000 Illinoisans.
“With 94 counties now rated at Medium or High Community Level for
COVID-19, we are seeing a slow but steady increase in case counts,”
said IDPH Acting Director Amaal Tokars. “We remind Illinoisans that
the most important step they can take to protect themselves and
their loved ones is to make sure they are up-to-date with vaccines
and booster shots. This is especially important for people who are
vulnerable to serious medical outcomes. It is recommended that you
wear your mask in indoor public places and avoid indoor crowded
spaces at this time. If needed, contact a healthcare provider
promptly to discuss what treatment is right for you.”
Director Tokars is also urging parents and guardians to take the
steps necessary to get children vaccinated, especially small
children under 5 for whom COVID-19 vaccines were recommended by the
CDC on June 18. Tokars said that IDPH is supporting an education and
outreach campaign by the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of
Pediatrics to educate healthcare providers and parents about the
effectiveness and safety of the newly authorized vaccines for
children under 5. Click HERE to view the resources for families
The counties listed at High Community Level are Cook, DuPage,
Grundy, Lake, McHenry, Will, Boone, Bureau, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle,
Stephenson, and Winnebago in northern Illinois; Adams, Cass,
Champaign, Christian, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar,
Fulton, Knox, Livingston, Logan, Marshall, McDonough, Menard,
Peoria, Pike, Putnam, Sangamon, Schuyler, Tazewell, Vermillion and
Warren in central Illinois; and Alexander, Bond, Calhoun, Franklin,
Jackson, Jersey, Madison, Marion, Perry, Pulaski, Union, Wabash and
Williamson in Southern Illinois.
The CDC recommends the following measures for people in areas that
are rated at High Community Level for COVID-19 transmission:
Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of
vaccination status (including in K-12 schools and other indoor
community settings)
If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease
Wear a mask or respirator that provides you with greater protection
Consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where
you could be exposed
Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to take
other precautions
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Have a plan for rapid testing if needed (e.g., having
home tests or access to testing)
IF YOU TEST POSITIVE: Talk to your healthcare
provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral
antivirals, and monoclonal antibodies
If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk
for severe disease
consider self-testing to detect infection before contact
consider wearing a mask when indoors with them
Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters Maintain
improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible
Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including
getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of
COVID-19
At the Medium Community Level, persons who are elderly or
immunocompromised (at risk of severe outcomes) are advised to wear a
mask in indoor public places. In addition, they should make sure to
get up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines or get their 2nd booster,
if eligible.
IDPH has been supporting pharmacies and healthcare providers in
efforts to increase their inventories of the various FDA-authorized
treatments. There are over 1,200 treatment locations in Illinois -
including all the major retail pharmacies. More than 96.7% of the
state’s population is within a 10-mile radius of one of these
locations.
A total of 22,804,249 vaccines have been administered in Illinois.
The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is
11,154 doses. Since July 8, 78,081 doses were reported administered
in Illinois. Of Illinois’ total population, more than 76% has
received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, more than 69% of
Illinois’ total population is fully vaccinated, and more than 53% of
the vaccinated population has an initial booster according to data
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data indicates
that the risk of hospitalization and severe outcomes from COVID-19
is much higher for unvaccinated people than for those who are up to
date on their vaccinations.
All data are provisional and are subject to change. Additional
information and COVID-19 data can be found at
https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19.html.
Vaccination is the key to ending this pandemic. To find a COVID-19
vaccination location near you, go to www.vaccines.gov.
The federal government has established a new website that provides
an all-purpose toolkit with information on how to obtain masks,
treatment, vaccines and testing resources for all areas of the
country at: https://www.covid.gov/.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |
