The Chicago Division of Public Well being is urging residents who journey to areas of the nation deemed medium or excessive COVID-19 threat by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention to observe precautions, in accordance with a journey advisory replace Friday.
CDPH issued suggestions following the most recent replace to the CDC’s county-by-county group ranges map, which categorizes 4.4% of counties within the U.S. and Puerto Danger as medium or excessive threat for COVID.
Most states nonetheless have low COVID-19 ranges, in accordance with well being officers however some states, similar to Arkansas, Maine, Montana, New York and South Dakota, have massive clusters of medium-to-high COVID-19 ranges.
Those that are age 5 or older and are not updated with COVID vaccinations ought to keep away from touring to areas listed as excessive threat, in accordance with the suggestions. Unvaccinated people who determine to journey ought to observe CDC steerage upon returning to Chicago, which incorporates quarantining for five days following journey and taking a COVID take a look at 3 to five days after returning.
In medium threat areas, folks ought to “think about sporting a masks in indoor public areas,” in accordance with well being officers. Whereas in communities deemed excessive threat, individuals are suggested to put on a masks in such settings.
This week, 19 counties have excessive threat group ranges, a slight enhance from 17 counties final week. Total ranges have improved prior to now a number of days, with 163 listed as medium to excessive threat final week, in comparison with 142 this week.
Components of Illinois and different states within the Midwest are amongst these mentioned to be at medium or excessive threat.
As of Friday, Gallatin, Hardin, Pope and Saline counties were deemed to be in the high risk category, that means masks are beneficial. Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota all have no less than one county listed as both medium or excessive threat.
At the same time as COVID metrics have climbed in Chicago, masks nonetheless aren’t crucial, well being officers say.
Instances have risen 28% within the final week, however hospitalizations have declined 38%, with simply seven Chicagoans on common being hospitalized with COVID per day as of Thursday.
The group unfold additionally stays low, mentioned Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Division of Public Well being.
“We proceed to see circumstances, however total the outbreak stays in good management,” Arwady mentioned.
