How soon will the U.S. know if another surge is coming, following increases around the world in the BA.2 variant? What are experts watching for?
Here’s what you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic across Illinois today:
Watch Live: Chicago’s Top Doctor to Give COVID Update, Announce Changes to Travel Advisory
Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady is expected to hold a COVID-19 update Tuesday afternoon.
Speaking at 1 p.m., Arwady and CDPH Medical Director Dr. Geraldine Luna and Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez, are expected to address COVID case counts, vaccination data and “provide an update on Chicago’s Travel Advisory, including a transition of the advisory.
Watch live in the player above.
COVID by the Numbers: Cases, Hospitalizations Continue Slow Descent 3 Weeks After Mask Mandate Lifted
Three weeks after the state of Illinois lifted its mask mandate, and amid reports that cases of an omicron subvariant are beginning to increase, state health officials say that rates of new COVID infections have remained largely steady, and even decreased, over the last seven days.
According to the latest figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health, The state is now averaging 1,085 new cases of COVID per day over the last week.
That figure has actually gone down from last Monday, when the state was averaging 1,177 new cases of the virus per day.
Read more here.
COVID Symptoms vs. Cold: Here’s How to Tell the Difference
If you’ve come down with a runny nose recently, you may be wondering whether you’re experiencing the common cold, allergies or maybe COVID-19.
Health officials say it can be difficult to tell what you’re experiencing based on the symptoms, but getting tested is one way to find out. That includes people who have been vaccinated, experts say.
Read more here.
What Experts Are Watching for Amid ‘Heightened Alert’ Over BA.2
Health experts say they are paying close attention to the BA.2 variant over the next few weeks as they wait to see if another COVID surge will arise.
But while many believe a rise in cases is possible, some say it is not expected to be more severe than the omicron surge see earlier this year.
There are, however, signs in other countries currently experiencing an uptick in cases due to the variant that transmission is leading to a rise in hospitalizations and possibly even deaths.
Here’s what experts are saying.
Health Experts Predict Uptick in U.S. COVID Cases Due to New BA.2 Variant
U.S. health experts are warning an emerging, highly contagious Covid omicron variant, called BA.2, could soon lead to another uptick in domestic coronavirus cases.
White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said BA.2 is about 50% to 60% more transmissible than omicron, but it does not appear to be more severe. Health officials continue to stress coronavirus vaccines and boosters remain the best ways to prevent serious illness from the virus.
Read more here.
Masks No Longer Recommended in Any of Illinois’ 102 Counties, CDC Says
For the first time since the end of Illinois’ mask mandate, residents in all 102 counties can safely visit public indoor spaces without wearing masks, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
All Illinois counties were listed in the low category on the CDC’s COVID-19 community level map Thursday, meaning masks can safely be removed.
Under metrics released a week earlier, masks had only been recommended in Johnson County, which had been ranked as a high community level – the highest level of COVID-19 risk.
Read more here.
The Latest Mask Guidance and Travel Tips During Busy Spring Break Travel
This spring break season, the Transportation Security Administration is bracing for a spike in travel volume that will surpass 90% of pre-pandemic levels for March.
For United Airlines, this weekend is expected to be one of the busiest for spring break…
Read More: Monitoring BA.2, Chicago COVID Update – NBC Chicago