How Will Chicago Enforce Quarantine for Travelers

CHICAGO – With COVID-19 cases continuing to gradually increase, Cook County and the City of Chicago moved from Low into the Medium COVID-xix Community Level,

the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today. With this move, CDPH is strongly recommending masking in public indoor spaces in Chicago, including on public transit.  Chicagoans should as well ensure that they and everyone in their social network is up-to-engagement with COVID-xix vaccines and boosters; test in the setting of any potential COVID-nineteen symptoms; and proceed to follow all isolation and quarantine requirements.

"We've been expecting to reach the Medium Level for some fourth dimension now," said Allison Arwady, M.D., Commissioner of CDPH. "Information technology'due south not a cause for alarm, since most cases right now are balmy and thankfully our COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths remain at or near all-time pandemic lows in Chicago.  Merely it is reason for more caution, and for more intendance with masking, since more people in Chicago are infected with COVID right at present. Remember that people can spread COVID for 2 days before they develop symptoms, so putting on a mask in public indoor settings is an easy style to help protect our metropolis while we're at a Medium COVID Level."

The U.Due south. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determines COVID-19 Customs Levels as Depression, Medium, or High, based on the number of ​new local COVID-19 cases, COVID-19 hospital admissions, and COVID-nineteen infirmary capacity in the prior week. Cook Canton (combining Chicago and suburban Melt data) counted 259 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over the past seven days, which pushed the canton over the 200-case threshold for the Medium Level. But to accomplish the High Level, local COVID-19 hospitalizations as well demand to be higher—pregnant that there is lilliputian short-term take a chance of reaching a Loftier COVID-19 customs level locally and new mandates are non imminent.

"Chicago moving into the Medium Level does not mean a citywide mask mandate, restrictions on public gatherings, or reinstatement of vaccination requirements at this fourth dimension," said Dr. Arwady. "With the way the current COVID variants are behaving, those are measures we would consider if we reached the High COVID-19 customs level—which we aren't close to reaching in Chicago right at present. But we obviously don't want to become at that place, and exercising some more caution now will help usa keep COVID in control in Chicago."

"In the meantime," said Arwady, "we strongly urge people to mask up in public indoor settings and on public transportation. This shouldn't end anyone from going to work or schoolhouse, or traveling on CTA buses and trains, but taking that precaution will help protect everyone.  And anyone who is at higher risk for severe outcomes because of historic period or underlying conditions should reach out to their doctor right away if they are diagnosed with COVID. There are early treatments available that cut the take chances of hospitalization by more than 80%."

Individual businesses or settings may enact their ain mask or vaccination requirements, and patrons of those businesses should respect and attach to such requirements.

Chicago Public Schools is encouraging indoor masking and the CTA is encouraging riders to article of clothing masks on buses and trains. Free masks are available on buses and at runway stations and in school settings across Chicago.

According to the CDC, 12.3 percentage – or 397 – of the 3,220 counties in the U.South. and Puerto Rico are now at Medium or High COVID-19 Community Levels. That is a 26 percent increase from last week.

Cook Canton is amid nine northeast Illinois counties – with Lake, McHenry, Winnebago, Dekalb, Kane, DuPage, Kendall, and Will – now at a Medium Level. 5 cardinal Illinois counties are too at a Medium Level. Other parts of the Midwest at a Medium COVID-19 Community Level include the areas surrounding Milwaukee, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Detroit. The but counties in the Midwest at a High Level are Grand Traverse Canton, in northwest Michigan, and Pennington County, in northwest Minnesota.

The Northeast and New England remain the nation's COVID-nineteen hotspot. Nearly all U.South. counties at a Loftier COVID-xix Community Level are in an surface area stretching from Erie County in western New York to the northern tip of Maine.

The CDC before this week renewed its travel masking guidelines. CDC recommends that everyone aged 2 and older – including passengers and workers –habiliment a well-fittingmask or respirator over the nose and mouth on transportation such every bit airplanes, trains, and buses and in transportation hubs such as airports and transit stations.

COVID-19 Customs Levels in U.South. by County

COVID-19 Community Levels in United states of america by County
		Total	Per centum	%Point Alter
	High	79 (56 terminal calendar week)	ii.45%	0.71%
	Medium	318 (258 last calendar week)	9.86%	ane.86%
	Low	2827 (2910 concluding week)	87.69%	-2.57%

The Chicago Department of Public Health tracks and reports many COVID-nineteen metrics daily for City of Chicago residents, while the Cook County Department of Public Health does so for suburban Cook County residents (excluding Chicago). Visit chi.gov/ coviddash

for the Chicago COVID-19 daily data dashboard. When the CDC updates its COVID-19 Community Levels national map each week (typically on Thursday evenings), both City of Chicago and suburban Cook Canton daily information are combined into i weekly metric for Cook County. Locally, Chicago adjusts its COVID-19 Community Level if EITHER the City or the whole of Cook County attain the threshold adamant by CDC.

ALL travelers should check the CDC map so they know whether the areas they are traveling to are at a Low, Medium, or High COVID-19 Community Level. Anyone traveling to a part of the land at Medium or High is urged to take appropriate precautions.

• If areas are Low Level (light-green) , no boosted action must be taken. Continue to follow standard guidance related to travel and vaccination.
• If the areas are Medium Level (yellowish) , it is recommended individuals habiliment a mask in indoor public places.
• If the areas are High Level (orange) :
  • Wear a mask in indoor public places.
  • Travelers who are age 5 or older who are not  upward to appointment with their COVID-19 vaccines are advised to avert travel to High Level counties.
  • Unvaccinated Chicagoans age 5 or older who travel to Loftier Level counties are advised to follow CDC guidance upon returning to Chicago:
  • Stay abode and quarantine for five days after travel
  • Accept a COVID examination 3-5 days after return – if it is positive, stay home and follow CDC guidance .

• ALL travelers are also advised to:
  • Ensure you are up-to-engagement with COVID-19 vaccines (including boosters) before  any planned travel.
  • Self-monitor for COVID-xix symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
  • Consider packing an at-dwelling house COVID examination in case you develop symptoms while traveling.
  • Bring a mask with you. Masks may be required by individual airports, airlines, and public transit agencies. Businesses may also still choose to crave masks.

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