Chicago residents who visit areas in the U.S. that have been classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as having moderate to high levels of COVID-19 should take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID, according to the city’s updated travel advisory.
The Chicago Department of Public Health on Friday said 7.4% of US counties are in the middle or high community tier, citing the latest CDC classifications.
Community-based measurements are defined as the number of new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population in the last seven days, the percentage of full inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the last seven days. CDC.
Illinois’ high community counties are down slightly from last week, according to the latest data. However, more than 30% of the country is considered to be in the middle or high community level, which means an increase from 28% last week.
Will, Cook, Lake, DuPage, and McHenry counties in the Chicago area remain in the high category, along with several other counties across the state, as new sub-counties roll out across the country.
Here’s what to do if you’re visiting an area that is considered a medium or high community level:
At high levels of the community, people are encouraged to wear masks in enclosed public spaces regardless of vaccination status and to maintain improved ventilation in all areas where possible.
The recommendations suggest that people aged 5 years and over who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID should avoid traveling to areas with a high standard of living. Unvaccinated individuals who choose to travel must follow CDC guidance upon return to Chicago, which includes quarantine for 5 days after travel and testing for COVID 3-5 days after return.
At the middle levels of the community, people should “consider wearing a mask in enclosed public places,” health officials said. In these areas, people who are immunosuppressed or at high risk of severe illness should talk to their healthcare provider about whether they need to wear a mask and take other precautions.
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