IDPH Adopts New CDC Guidelines
that Streamline Recommendations for COVID-19, Flu and RSV
New guidelines add flexibility to
isolation with Covid-19
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[March 01, 2024]
The
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced today that it
is adopting updated guidance from the CDC that streamline and
simplify recommendations for dealing with the range of respiratory
viruses, including COVID-19, flu and RSV. The new guidance focuses
on protecting those most at risk of serious illness.
The CDC guidance was issued as data indicate respiratory viruses are
continuing to circulate around Illinois and the state’s overall
respiratory virus level has moved up from Low to Moderate based on
an uptick in flu reports. The state remained at Low level for
COVID-19 hospitalizations, according to the CDC COVID Data Tracker
as of February 24. The data showed that six counties are at Medium
level for COVID-19 hospitalizations, down from eight the previous
week. There are no counties at High level for COVID-19
hospitalizations.
Also this week on Wednesday, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP) issued a recommendation for a second
dose of the current 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines that were authorized
last fall to be given to those over 65 years of age. Those who are
immunosuppressed remain eligible to receive additional doses 2
months after their previous dose. A CDC presentation that was
provided for the ACIP meeting included preliminary data that showed
that COVID-19 hospital admissions remained much higher than flu
during the summer months and that 96% of those hospitalized for
COVID-19 in the fall of 2023, had not received the updated Covid
shot last fall. This implies that the current shot is highly
protective against serious outcomes.
“IDPH appreciates the new guidance from the CDC that streamlines
recommendations across respiratory viruses and provides simple,
clear and easy to understand steps for those with COVID-19, flu and
RSV,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “These new guidelines put
the emphasis correctly on protecting those who are most vulnerable
to serious illness and hospitalizations. While Illinois is in a
better position than we were two months ago, the State is currently
experiencing an uptick in our overall respiratory illness level.
Individuals 65 and over, those who are immunocompromised, and
individuals with chronic medical conditions remain most vulnerable
to severe outcomes, and they should continue to use all tools at
their disposal to keep themselves protected.
“Flu season can last until May, and it is not too
late to get your flu shot if you haven’t already,” Dr. Vohra added.
“The CDC also released new recommendations this week that allow
older adults to now receive an additional dose of this season’s
COVID-19 vaccine. An additional dose for those at highest risk can
add protection this spring and summer.”
The new CDC guidance no longer requires that those who test positive
for COVID-19 should isolate for a minimum of five days before
returning to work or other activities and instead focuses on
isolation until symptoms improve – which could be shorter or longer
than five days. The key recommendation for those with any seasonal
respiratory virus is to stay home and away from others until their
symptoms improve.
The guidance suggests people can return to normal activities when
symptoms have been improving for 24 hours - and if a fever was
present, it has been gone for 24 hours without use of a
fever-reducing medication.
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In addition, once people resume normal activities,
they are encouraged to take precautions for the next five days to
curb disease spread, including:
· Taking more steps for cleaner air
· Enhancing hygiene practices
· Wearing a well-fitting mask
· Keeping a distance from others and/or
· Getting tested to inform your actions to prevent spread to others.
These precautions also apply to those who never had symptoms but
tested positive for a common seasonal respiratory virus and are
especially important when it comes to protecting those most at risk
for severe illness, including those over 65 and people with weakened
immune systems.
In addition, IDPH officials pointed to a new study by
researchers that found that among U.S. adults at risk for severe
COVID-19, the lowest rate of hospitalization was found to be among
those receiving three or more mRNA vaccine doses and Paxlovid.
Adults who are at high-risk of severe COVID-19 disease, including
vaccinated persons, should be considered for antiviral treatment.
With RSV season now winding down in Illinois, the use of the RSV
vaccine in pregnancy is no longer warranted. However, the shots that
can be used to provide infants and young children protective
immunity to RSV will continue to be available until the end of the
season, and older adults can continue to get their RSV vaccine even
after the season is declared over.
To help keep the public informed about conditions around the state,
IDPH maintains an Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance
Dashboard that is updated weekly on Fridays. This report provides
the public the latest data on hospital visits, seasonal trends, lab
test positivity and demographic data.
Every household in the U.S. is eligible to receive
four free at-home tests through the COVID.gov website. IDPH has also
made available a single swab triple-test for Flu/RSV and COVID-19,
at no cost, to high risk congregate care settings and local health
departments.
For those who are uninsured or under-insured, the CDC launched the
Bridge Access Program last year that covers the cost of COVID-19
vaccines. The Vaccines for Children Program covers all ACIP
recommended vaccines for eligible children, including nirsevimab for
RSV protection.
For treatment of COVID-19, Illinoisans who experience symptoms can
access no cost-share telehealth services through the SIU School of
Medicine COVID Test to Treat services or call (217) 545-5100. An
additional option is the NIH Test to Treat line or call
1-800-682-2829 to get access to no-cost care.
The federal government has established a 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/.
In addition, the federal government has established helplines to
provide information and resources to for people with disabilities
and older people:
· The Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) can help people
with disabilities find local vaccination clinics, connect with
accessible transportation, and provide other assistance in accessing
COVID-19 vaccinations.
· The Eldercare Locator is a national resource funded by the
Administration for Community Living that can help older adults find
local vaccination clinics, connect with accessible transportation,
and provide other assistance in accessing vaccinations.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |