 According to the CDC, 28 counties are now rated at
High Community Level for COVID-19, an area that includes counties
around the Chicago and Rockford areas, as well counties around
Peoria, Quincy, Springfield and Champaign in central Illinois. An
additional 53 counties in Illinois are now rated at Medium Community
Level.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,435,405 cases, including
34,150 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois since the beginning of
the pandemic.
As of last night, 1,154 individuals in Illinois were reported to be
in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 122 patients were in the
ICU and 44 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. The
preliminary seven-day statewide case rate is 221 COVID-19 cases per
100,000 Illinoisans.
In light of the recent upticks in COVID-19 cases recorded following
the Memorial Day Weekend and Father’s Day and Juneteenth, IDPH is
urging Illinoisans to exercise caution and common sense when it
comes to attending family gatherings and crowded events over the
coming Fourth of July weekend.
“As we celebrate the Fourth of July this weekend, everyone should be
aware that 81 counties in Illinois are rated at Medium or High
Community Level for COVID-19,” said IDPH Acting Director Amaal
Tokars. “This means that people who are vulnerable to serious
medical outcomes are at higher risk. We remind holiday hosts to
think of the safety of friends and family. You should hold events
outdoors if possible, and in well-ventilated spaces if indoors. If
you are attending a family gathering, you should be up-to-date and
boosted on your vaccinations. If you are feeling any symptoms, you
should take a COVID-19 test or stay home. In areas with elevated
community levels, you should wear your mask in indoor public places
and avoid indoor crowded spaces. 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, Lake,
Will, Stephenson and Winnebago in northern Illinois; Adams, Brown,
Champaign, Christian. Clark, Douglas, Logan, Macon, Marshall,
Menard, Peoria, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler and Tazewell in central
Illinois; and Franklin, Jackson, Johnson, Marion, Massac, Wayne 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
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Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you
need to take other precautions
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 22,677,349 vaccines have been administered in Illinois.
The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is
10,793 doses. Since June 24, 75,552 doses were reported administered
in Illinois. Of Illinois’ total population, more than 76% has
received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, 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] |
