A new version of omicron is fast becoming the dominant strain in the US, but what do we know about it so far?
Additionally, there are new changes for Illinois when it comes to contact tracing.
Here’s what you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic in Illinois today:
New Omicron sub-variant: Symptoms, spread rate, etc.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updates its estimates of the subvariants that cause coronavirus cases in the United States every week, and a new version of omicron could top that list this week.
According to data from last week, the BA.2.12.1 subvariant of omicron accounted for approximately 47.5% of COVID cases in the United States.
So what exactly is this new subvariant? Is it spreading faster than previous iterations of the virus? And does it cause more serious disease? Here’s what we know so far.
How many children are vaccinated against COVID in Illinois? Here are the data
As booster shots for children are authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and COVID cases are on the rise across the country and in the state of Illinois, how many children are already being vaccinated against the virus ?
The Illinois Department of Public Health has been tracking measures across the state.
Data on Friday showed that more than 60% of Illinois children ages 12 to 17 were fully immunized, while only 36% of those ages 5 to 11 had completed a series.
See a full breakdown by county for the Chicago area.
Illinois to end contact tracing calls for COVID patients and text instead
The Illinois Department of Public Health has said it will no longer conduct contact tracing over the phone for people who test positive for COVID-19 and will use case notifications instead. automated by SMS from next month.
Starting June 1, IDPH officials say they will no longer make case investigation phone calls to people who test positive for COVID-19, and that the contact tracing call center that had been established during the pandemic will cease operations.
Learn more here.
Illinois COVID stats: Slight drops in metrics after periods of increases
A week after Illinois averaged more than 6,000 COVID-19 cases for the first time in three months, the state saw a break in the upward trend — as slight decreases in case counts and hospitalizations have been reported.
However, the measures still remain significantly higher than they were a few months ago, according to data recently released by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Learn more here.
USPS COVID Test Kit: How to get yours in the mail
You can now sign up to receive 8 free rapid home antigen COVID tests in the mail, the federal government recently announced.
In previous rounds of test distributions, residents could only claim four home COVID test kits per household.
Test kits will be shipped to residences free of charge, according to the United States Postal Service. These tests will be presented in two separate packages, with four test kits in each package, according to the USPS.
Here’s how to sign up and get yours mailed to your home.
Illinois COVID Tests: Where to Find Free, Fast COVID PCR Tests Near You
COVID cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in Illinois, with the state now averaging more than 6,000 new probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases per day.
This is the first time in more than three months that Illinois has seen the daily rate this high.
The good news is that COVID testing in Chicago and Illinois remains free at many locations. And, the federal government is now offering residents double the number of free COVID rapid antigen tests during its latest round of kit availability, according to an update from the United States Postal Service.
If you have symptoms or think you’ve been exposed, here’s where you can find free COVID tests near you in Chicago and Illinois, for adults and children.
How soon can you test positive for COVID after an infection?
If your COVID test is positive, how long could it last?
According to Centers for Disaster Control and Preventionsome people who get COVID-19 may have detectable virus for up to three months, but that does not mean they are contagious.
When it comes to testing, however, PCR tests are more likely to continue to detect virus after infection.
Learn more here.
When are you contagious with COVID and how long should you quarantine?
COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in Chicago and the city’s top doctor said the trend is likely to continue in the coming weeks, prompting questions from concerned residents.
Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said the city’s positivity rate has climbed to nearly 5% in recent weeks, and she expects the measures to continue. increase in the next few days.
Learn more here.
Low, Medium, High: What the CDC’s Community Levels Mean and What’s Required in Each
With nearly every county in the Chicago area having reached “average community level” for COVID-19 and a suburb of Chicago reaching “high” levels of transmission, according to guidelines set by the US Centers for Disease Control and PreventionWhat does this mean to you?
So what does this mean and what does it take to reach each level?
Here is an overview of the guidelines.
Tested positive for COVID and looking for treatment options? Here’s what to know about Pfizer’s antiviral pill
As more and more tests come back positive for the coronavirus in the Chicago area, many are wondering about treating the virus with the new COVID-19 antiviral pill.
Pfizer’s Paxlovid pill has been used in several recent high-profile cases, including that of Vice President Kamala Harris.
But as more doctors prescribe Pfizer’s powerful COVID pill, new questions are emerging about its performance, including why a small number of patients appear to relapse after taking the drug.
Here’s what we know so far.
COVID incubation period: how long should you quarantine and when are you contagious?
COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in Chicago and the city’s top doctor said the trend is likely to continue in the coming weeks, prompting questions from concerned residents.
Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said the city’s positivity rate has climbed to nearly 5% in recent weeks, and she expects the measures to continue. increase in the next few days.
“In this wave… it’s likely we’ll have even more cases before we see it turn around,” she said. “And the last thing we want to do is people really see the number of hospitalizations increase significantly.”
For those who contract COVID, there may be lingering questions. Here is the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CDC COVID 2022 guidelines: Symptoms to watch out for, duration of quarantine and more
With new, more contagious variants of COVID-19 spreading across the United States and nearly all of the Chicago area reaching a higher alert level, many are wondering what to do if they show symptoms or test positive for the virus.
If you were exposed, when could symptoms start, how long are you contagious, how long should you quarantine yourself, and what is the best time to test?
Learn more here.
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