Chicago’s high physician responds to questions over when town’s vaccine mandate could possibly be lifted as metrics proceed a downward development.
In the meantime, Illinois officers are getting ready to quickly provide COVID vaccines to kids beneath the age of 5.
This is what you want to know concerning the coronavirus pandemic throughout Illinois at the moment:
Chicago May Carry Vaccine Requirement ‘Not That Lengthy From Now’ If Downward Traits Proceed: Arwady
Chicago’s vaccine mandate in place at bars, eating places and gymnasiums could possibly be lifted “not that lengthy from now” ought to town proceed to see COVID-19 metrics trending downward, in keeping with Chicago’s high physician.
As town sees coronavirus circumstances, deaths and hospitalizations shortly lowering, Chicago Division of Public Well being Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady mentioned in a Fb reside occasion Thursday that she hears folks asking when the vaccine requirement could possibly be eliminated.
“Not subsequent week, I’ll inform you that,” Arwady mentioned. “But when we proceed to see the drops like we have been dropping, it will not be that lengthy from now, I believe.”
Learn extra here.
Style of Chicago, Air and Water Present Will Return at ‘Pre-Pandemic Dimension and Scope’
Style of Chicago and the Air and Water Present, amongst different spring and summer time festivals, are set to make a return in 2022, many at “practically their pre-pandemic dimension and scope,” metropolis officers introduced Thursday.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Division of Cultural Affairs and Particular Occasions introduced the dates for a number of notable festivals and particular occasions hitting town over coming months.
“Chicago’s spring and summertime programming is cherished by our residents and bolsters our tourism, hospitality and inventive industries,” Lightfoot mentioned. “I’m thrilled that we will convey again our iconic music and meals festivals, in addition to a whole lot of different occasions. It will assist to convey a way of normalcy again to our metropolis and revitalize the native economies of our neighborhoods.”
Full record here.
Illinois Well being Officers Start Preparations as Pfizer Seeks Approval for Kids Below 5 to Get COVID Vaccine
With Pfizer submitting information Tuesday to the Meals and Drug Administration to permit for an emergency use authorization on its COVID vaccine for youngsters beneath the age of 5, Illinois well being officers are working to prepared themselves to manage these photographs as quickly because the go-ahead is given.
Based on a press launch issued by the Illinois Division of Public Well being, officers are working to arrange for the probably occasion that the FDA will authorize COVID vaccine doses for youngsters between the ages of 6 months and 4 years previous.
“We’re wanting ahead to the supply of a COVID-19 vaccine for our youngest inhabitants, as soon as it’s reviewed by the CDC,” Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of IDPH, mentioned in a press release. “As we transfer towards coexisting with COVID-19, it is necessary that we’re in a position to provide as a lot safety as attainable from COVID-19-related hospitalizations for all ages.”
Learn extra here.
Extra Particulars on Model of COVID Variant Now Present in Illinois, Wisconsin
A model of the omicron variant dubbed “stealth omicron” is being monitored by scientists and well being consultants world wide, and has now been detected in each Illinois and in Wisconsin, in keeping with well being officers.
Based on officers at Northwestern College, the primary case of the BA.2 omicron subvariant was detected in Illinois Monday. The primary case in Wisconsin was additionally reported on Monday, according to Milwaukee County health officials.
This model of the coronavirus is broadly thought-about stealthier than the unique model of omicron as a result of specific genetic traits make it considerably tougher to detect on PCR assessments.
Learn extra here.
Illinois Experiences First Case of ‘Stealth Omicron’ Subvariant BA.2
The primary case of the BA.2 omicron subvariant, usually known as “stealth omicron,” has been detected in Illinois, Northwestern College officers mentioned Monday.
The case was found by Northwestern Medication’s Middle for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution (CPGME) over the weekend, in keeping with a information launch from college officers.
The person who contracted the variant was examined for COVID-19 on Jan. 18, nonetheless extra details about the individual, together with the place in Illinois they’re situated, wasn’t accessible. It is not the primary case to be detected within the Midwest as a Milwaukee County health official said Monday the subvariant had also been reported in Wisconsin.
Learn extra here.
Chicago Public Colleges Shorten Isolation and Quarantine for College students and Employees
Chicago Public Colleges will cut back its beneficial quarantine and isolation durations starting Tuesday in alignment with present COVID-19 steering from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
Kids and employees members who take a look at optimistic no matter their vaccination standing might want to isolate for 5 days quite than the beforehand suggested 10 days, in keeping with CPS and well being officers.
Based on CPS, the shift to a five-day quarantine will influence college students in a different way relying on their vaccination standing, signs and whether or not an an infection has been confirmed.
Learn extra here.
Free COVID Take a look at Kits: How Illinois Residents Can Get Them and The place
There are actually a number of methods some Illinois residents can order free COVID take a look at kits, however your choices rely on the place you reside as new state and federal applications start.
In sure ZIP codes in 14 Illinois counties, 1000’s of at-home, speedy COVID assessments are being made accessible at no cost, the Illinois Division of Public Well being introduced final week.
That is on high of a authorities program that launched earlier this month for all Individuals.
Here’s what to know about how and where residents in the state can get free COVID test kits.
Incubation Interval: How Lengthy Ought to You Quarantine With a COVID An infection?
As coronavirus circumstances proceed to unfold all through Chicago and Illinois and officers replace incubation interval steering, how lengthy must you quarantine with an an infection?
The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention not too long ago modified its steering, shifting the timing for isolation and quarantine as some consultants say the time-frame when persons are most contagious is earlier.
Residents in These Illinois ZIP Codes Can Get Free At-House COVID Checks From IDPH
In 14 Illinois counties, 1000’s of at-home, speedy COVID assessments are being made accessible at no cost, the Illinois Division of Public Well being introduced Friday.
Based on the division, 225,000 take a look at kits are being made accessible by way of Undertaking Entry COVID Checks to residents in sure zip codes.
Residents within the eligible communities can order the assessments by way of AccessCovidTests.org, the place they will join a free house supply. Every family will then obtain 5 assessments, or one package, inside two weeks of ordering. Transport is free, IDPH famous.
Checklist of eligible ZIP codes here.
