The BA.2 omicron subvariant is now accounting for greater than half the COVID-19 instances throughout Chicago, based on the town’s prime physician.
In the meantime, a brand new examine from the the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention discovered that greater than 40% of highschool college students felt “persistently” unhappy or hopeless during the last two years within the pandemic.
Here is what you have to know in regards to the coronavirus pandemic throughout Illinois immediately:
Extra Than 40% of Excessive Schoolers Felt ‘Persistently’ Unhappy, Hopeless Throughout COVID Pandemic: CDC
A landmark examine performed by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention discovered that greater than one-third of highschool college students stated they skilled “poor psychological well being” through the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas almost half stated they felt “persistently” unhappy or hopeless during the last two years.
In response to the survey, 44% of highschool college students stated they felt “persistently unhappy or hopeless” through the COVID pandemic. Officers say 37% of scholars stated they skilled poor psychological well being during the last yr.
Learn extra right here.
BA.2 Omicron Subvariant Is Dominant COVID Pressure in Chicago, High Physician Says
The BA.2 omicron subvariant is accounting for greater than half the COVID-19 instances throughout Chicago as of Thursday, as the town continues to observe the widespread pressure, based on the town’s prime physician.
“Simply as projected, we had been estimating that roughly [by] the tip of the month we’d have seen the bulk, that means greater than 50%, of our instances right here in Chicago and within the Midwest, being that omicron BA.2,” Chicago Division of Public Well being Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady stated Thursday. “And actually that is precisely the place we’re, 50.4%.”
Learn extra right here.
COVID Vaccine Booster Pictures: What to Know as 4th Dose Authorised for Some
Federal regulators have accepted a second booster shot of the COVID vaccine, for sure teams, so who’s now eligible and what are you able to count on with the fourth dose?
Here is a breakdown of what we all know to date.
Chicago to Proceed Monitoring BA.2 Omicron Subvariant, Seeing Uptick in COVID Circumstances
Chicago officers are persevering with to observe the BA.2 omicron subvariant as the town sees a “slight enhance” in COVID-19 instances and check positivity over the previous week, the well being division stated Wednesday.
Regardless of the uptick, the Chicago Division of Public Well being stated the town stays in “good management” over the outbreak after lifting masks and vaccine necessities about one month in the past.
Learn extra right here.
BA.2 Signs, Safety and Extra: What We Know as Omicron Subvariant Grows
Information in regards to the BA.2 omicron subvariant continues to develop because it turns into the dominant COVID pressure not simply within the Midwest however throughout the U.S., however what must you be looking forward to?
Specialists say what occurs within the subsequent few weeks within the U.S. might be vital as to if or not the U.S. will comply with in Europe’s footsteps as a number of nations report outbreaks much like ranges seen throughout Chicago’s omicron surge in January.
So what’s BA.2, what are the signs related to it, the place has it been detected and the way contagious is it? Here is a breakdown.
BA.2 ‘Stealth Omicron’ Subvariant Now the Dominant COVID Pressure within the Midwest: CDC
In response to new estimates launched Tuesday by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, the BA.2 subvariant of COVID-19, in any other case referred to as “stealth omicron,” is now the dominant pressure of the virus within the Midwest and in america.
The info, launched Tuesday, displays estimates of COVID instances identified between March 19 and March 26, based on the CDC’s web site.
Learn extra right here.
FDA OKs One other Pfizer, Moderna COVID Booster for 50 and Up
U.S. regulators on Tuesday approved one other COVID-19 booster for folks age 50 and older, a step to supply additional safety for probably the most weak in case the coronavirus rebounds.
The Meals and Drug Administration’s choice opens a fourth dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to these folks at the very least 4 months after their earlier booster.
Learn extra right here.
Illinois COVID Areas: Metrics Present Slight Upticks in Suburban Chicago Communities
Whereas a lot of the state of Illinois is seeing stability and even downward traits in COVID metrics, a number of Chicago-area communities are seeing slight upticks in positivity charges in current days.
In response to the newest information from the Illinois Division of Public Well being, the very best positivity charge among the many state’s 11 well being care areas is in Area 8, comprised of Kane and DuPage counties.
Learn extra right here.
Illinois to Cease COVID Testing at 10 State Websites
Citing a “sharp drop within the demand for COVID-19 testing providers,” Illinois’ well being division introduced plans to cease working such websites within the state on the finish of the month.
In response to well being officers, the websites are operating “lower than 1 p.c of the assessments being performed statewide.”
“The variety of day by day assessments performed at these websites is on observe to be the bottom on file with every web site seeing fewer than 50 people per day, based on IDPH information G,” the well being division states. “Given the provision of free at-home COVID-19 assessments from the federal authorities, the statewide community of federally certified well being facilities and the intensive variety of SHIELD saliva testing websites all through Illinois, there are ample, handy alternatives for Illinois residents to acquire entry to a check if wanted.”
The division stated the state is “at the moment strongly positioned to reply to a possible surge,” nonetheless.
The ten places will cease working for testing, vaccinations or each after March 31. Places embody: Aurora, Arlington Heights, South Holland, Fairview Heights, Peoria, Bloomington, Champaign, Harwood Heights, Rockford and Waukegan.
How A lot Extra Transmissible is BA.2 Than Omicron? Here is What Medical doctors Say
Because the BA.2 omicron subvariant spreads in components of the U.S., some are questioning about its transmissibility, particularly if BA.2 is extra contagious than the unique omicron pressure.
BA.2 has been steadily rising as a proportion of the COVID variants circulating within the U.S. since Feb. 5, when it represented about 1% of genetically sequenced virus samples, based on information printed this week by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
Although BA.2 is rising within the U.S., main public well being officers aren’t anticipating one other dramatic surge in instances, largely because of the stage of immunity from vaccination and the fierce outbreak through the winter omicron wave.
Learn extra right here.
How Lengthy Ought to You Quarantine With COVID? Right here’s What the CDC Recommends
As coronavirus instances begin to tick upward in some components of america, residents are searching for out reminders of what to do within the occasion that they’re uncovered to somebody who assessments constructive for COVID-19.
The BA.2 subvariant of omicron is driving upward traits in instances in quite a few places, together with within the Midwest. In response to the newest information from the CDC, the omicron variant continues to be the dominant pressure of the virus within the U.S., with the BA.2 subvariant, in any other case referred to as “stealth omicron,” making up roughly 35% of instances within the final week.
Within the Midwest, the BA.2 subvariant is estimated to be answerable for greater than 30% of recent COVID instances throughout the final week.
So what must you do if you’re uncovered to somebody with COVID? It relies on whether or not or not you might be up-to-date in your vaccinations. Here is what you have to know.
Chicago Journey Advisory: COVID Precautions Suggested in 9% of US Underneath New Steering
The Chicago Division of Public Well being on Friday urged COVID-19 precautions in areas of the nation thought of medium or excessive danger by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention because it unveiled new journey advisory suggestions to align with federal tips.
CDPH issued a information launch, explaining it adjusted Chicago’s journey advisory to match the CDC’s county stage steerage, which supplies extra weight to hospitalizations and hospital capability, slightly that strictly case numbers. Underneath the brand new protocols, counties are both thought of low, medium or excessive danger for COVID transmission.
Beginning later this week, Chicago’s journey advisory will look totally different as metropolis officers introduced plans to alter how the advisory is structured.
In medium danger areas, folks ought to “contemplate sporting a masks in indoor public areas,” based on well being officers. Whereas in communities deemed excessive danger, persons are suggested to put on a masks in such settings.
Learn extra right here.
What are the Signs of the Omicron Subvariant BA.2? Here is What Specialists Say So Far
Months after the U.S. skilled a surge in instances of the omicron variant, focus has turned to totally different pressure – BA.2, a subvariant of omicron, additionally known as “stealth omicron.”
BA.2 captured consideration because it spawned an increase in infections in Europe earlier this month, and in current weeks, case numbers have risen in New York Metropolis, the place BA.2 seems to be on observe to taking on because the dominant pressure.
The BA.2 omicron subvariant is anticipated to make up most of Chicago’s COVID instances by the tip of the month, the town’s prime physician stated Tuesday.
As of March 19, the subvariant accounted for almost 35% of COVID-19 instances within the U.S., a roughly 12% enhance from the week prior, based on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
In current days, case numbers have additionally gone up within the Midwest.
In response to the CDC, the BA.2 subvariant made up simply over 30% of recent COVID instances in a six-state space, together with Illinois, over the week ending March 19.
The whole story might be discovered right here.
