Roughly 12% of U.S. counties are both thought-about as medium or excessive group ranges for COVID-19, in line with the town of Chicago’s journey advisory and the most recent info from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
For the primary time since journey advisory steerage was revised earlier this yr, Chicago itself and several suburban counties are listed in the medium category, that means security COVID measures are suggested in these areas, too. Metropolis well being officers every week earlier acknowledged the shift was doable, noting it may occur within the coming weeks.
Those that go to areas listed as medium group ranges are inspired to put on a masks in indoor public areas, in line with the Chicago Division of Public Well being. Within the 79 U.S. counties listed as having excessive group ranges, the next precautionary measures are suggested:
- Put on a masks in indoor public locations
- Keep residence and quarantine for 5 days after journey
- Take a COVID take a look at 3-5 days after return. Whether it is optimistic, keep residence and comply with CDC steerage.
Vacationers who’re at the least 5 years previous and are not updated with COVID vaccinations ought to keep away from touring to areas listed as excessive group ranges, in line with the suggestions. Unvaccinated people who decide to journey ought to comply with CDC steerage upon returning to Chicago.
As of Friday, the Northeast and New England stay the nation’s COVID-19 hotspots, with almost all of the excessive group degree counties in a area stretching from western New York to northern Maine.
In Illinois, no counties are listed as excessive group ranges, however a complete of 13 are thought-about medium. These counties are Lake, McHenry, Winnebago, Dekalb, Kane, DuPage, Kendall, and Will within the Chicago space and Champaign, Douglas, Logan, McLean and Sangamon in central Illinois.
Parts of the Midwest are additionally labeled within the medium class, together with counties surrounding Detroit, Milwaukee and Minneapolis-St. Paul, in line with the CDC. Grand Traverse County in northern Michigan and Pennington County in northwest Minnesota are the one two Midwest counties with excessive group ranges.
