Since masks are recommended in parts of the Chicago area, what kind should you wear?
Here’s what you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic across Illinois today.
What are the best masks for COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses?
The simultaneous threat of COVID-19, RSV and flu continues to circulate, spurring health officials to recommend people start against what used to be a mainstay at the height of the pandemic: masking.
While face coverings are not currently recommended throughout the Chicago area, masks are recommended in some parts following a surge in COVID-19 metrics.
Read more here.
3 signs the ‘pandemic economy’ ended in 2022 – although Covid is still here
By any technical definition, the US is still in a pandemic. By September, the World Health Organization had only declared the end of the pandemic “in sight,” but not here just yet — especially as COVID cases are rising and another harsh winter wave looms.
America’s money habits, however, have almost entirely reverted to pre-pandemic trends. After almost two years of significant disruption – for better or worse – these are three examples of how the pandemic economy ended in 2022.
Could Monoviruses or Fat Cells Play a Role in Long COVID?
A British historian, an Italian archaeologist and an American preschool teacher have never met in person, but they share a prominent pandemic bond.
Plagued by eerily similar symptoms, the three women are credited with describing, naming and helping bring long-COVID to public awareness in early 2020.
Nearly three years into the pandemic, scientists are still trying to figure out why some people stay sick with COVID for a long time and why a small proportion – including the three women – have persistent symptoms.
Here is some of the latest evidence.
Here masks are recommended in the Chicago area
While face coverings are not currently recommended throughout the Chicago area, masks are recommended in some parts following a surge in COVID-19 metrics.
Nationwide, metrics have been rising since Thanksgiving, the data showed, and could potentially rise higher after gatherings around Christmas. According to an updated county-by-county map of CDC community levels, nearly 11% of U.S. counties have high community-level status, while 41% are listed intermediate-level.
Read more here.
88 of Illinois’ 102 counties at an elevated COVID-19 community level as cases mostly stagnate
As many families in Illinois prepare for holiday celebrations, cases of COVID-19 remain at elevated levels statewide, with three Chicago-area counties now at “high” COVID-19 community levels, according to the CDC.
CDC data shows that 88 of Illinois’ 102 counties are currently at a “high” or “intermediate” parish level, up from 86 counties at an elevated level last week.
Read more here.
3 Chicago-area counties achieve high COVID alert level, masks recommended
Three Chicago-area counties are on a “high” COVID alert level by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and along with dozens of other counties across Illinois, are reaching the highest municipal level mandating that masks be recommended for all indoor public spaces.
DuPage and Kendall counties achieved the designation in Thursday’s CDC update, with DeKalb County still sitting at “high” status after achieving it the previous week.
Read more here.
Chicago issues mask recommendation as city hits ‘high’ alert level, mayor says
If Chicago reaches a “high” COVID alert level from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the city will issue a mask recommendation, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Thursday just before the holiday weekend.
While the city and Cook County weren’t finally lifted to high levels this week, experts said they expect the transition to be imminent.
Read more here.
What are “Never Coviders”?
Not to be confused with people who have not yet contracted COVID-19, researchers believe that the portion of the population who are naturally immune to the virus (never-coviders) will never get sick.
Not to be confused with people who have not yet contracted COVID-19, researchers believe that the portion of the population who are naturally immune to the virus (never-coviders) will never get sick.
Look here.
You can get free COVID tests from the government. Here’s how
Once again, US citizens can have free COVID tests delivered directly to their homes.
The Biden administration announced Dec. 15 that it is offering four rapid virus tests to households through covidtests.gov. So how can you get yours?
Read more here.
You can now get both a flu and COVID test at Walgreens. Here’s how
With highly communicable respiratory diseases circulating, Walgreens announced rapid flu tests are now available alongside COVID tests at select pharmacies.
The move aims to curb the spread of viruses by helping communities identify and manage their illnesses as the holiday season draws to a close, the pharmaceutical company said in a press release on Friday.
Read more here.
Comments are closed.