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The Latest Breaking News from Illinois Department of Public Health

Pritzker signs bill combating food deserts across Illinois

There were 3.3 million Illinois residents living in a food desert, according to a 2021 Illinois Department of Public Health report. The new measure will support existing grocers and help encourage new grocers by allowing stores receiving grants to be able to receive tax credits and other incentives.

Chicago Sun-Times

Winter’s coming — and so is COVID ‘trouble’ as coronavirus cases rise but vaccine booster rates don’t

“We are not where we need to be as a city, in people getting that fall 2022 booster,” a costumed Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said.

Chicago Sun-Times

State reports 65 new ‘mild’ cases of COVID-19 at LaSalle Veterans’ Home, site of deadly outbreak two years ago

The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs said 23 staff and 42 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Illinois Veterans’ Home at LaSalle. No one has required hospitalization.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Chicago, suburbs back down to low COVID-19 risk level: CDC

Illinois has reported an average of 2,482 new cases per day over the past week, a 32% decline compared to a month ago.

Chicago Sun-Times

State health department investigating Legionnaires’ disease cluster in Burbank; 4 cases linked to area church

The Illinois Department of Public Health is working with the Stickney Public Health District to investigate the cluster of cases reported in the southwest suburb of Burbank.

Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois’ new public health leader faces big challenges, an Oak Park native sets sail and more in your Chicago news roundup

Today’s update is a 5-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories.

Chicago Sun-Times

Abortion, COVID-19, monkeypox all on new state health chief’s rounds: ‘Impossible not to feel the weight of these challenges’

Gov. J.B. Pritzker called Dr. Sameer Vohra “laser-focused on our most vulnerable populations, especially our youth… To say he is a committed public servant would be an understatement.”

Chicago Sun-Times

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Dr. Sameer Vohra named next director of Illinois Department of Public Health

Vohra, hailed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker as the Illinois Department of Public Health’s “next visionary leader,” will serve as the permanent replacement for Dr. Ngozi Ezike, who was a fixture on Illinois television screens during the pandemic.

Chicago Sun-Times

COVID-19 filling hospital beds across Illinois, as risk level improves to ‘medium’ in Cook County

Hospital admissions have more than doubled since mid-April, following a steady increase in cases since the early spring — a trend playing out in most other parts of the country, too.

Chicago Sun-Times

More than a dozen counties join those with high level for COVID-19 transmission

“The most effective way to prevent severe illness is for all to be up-to date with vaccinations and boosters,” said Amaal Tokars, the Illinois Department of Public Health’s acting director.

Chicago Sun-Times

As COVID-19 warning levels increase across more of Illinois, Pritzker’s briefings don’t

Gov. J.B. Pritzker hasn’t held a news conference on COVID-19 in three months, but his office says the governor and his public health team remain on top of the situation. Experts aren’t sure more briefings would help, given how tired many are of hearing about the virus.

Chicago Sun-Times

2nd probable case of monkeypox found in Chicago, health agency says

CHICAGO — A second probable case of monkeypox was found in Chicago, the Illinois Department of Public Health said Friday evening.

Chicago Tribune

Health officials say 2nd probable case of monkeypox found in Chicago

A spokesman for the Illinois Department of Public Health said the second person tested positive at a state lab but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may not confirm the case until Monday.

Chicago Sun-Times

Four more Illinois counties hit high level for COVID-19 transmission, but cases ‘begin to trend downward’

But hospitalizations are still about as high as they’ve been since February, with more than 1,200 beds occupied as of Thursday night.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times

Jewel-Osco now ‘requesting’ employees wear masks

A spokeswoman for the supermarket chain cited the high COVID-19 transmission rates.

Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois collects data about who gets abortions but keeps race, ethnicity hidden

The data that could help illuminate disparities has never been public here. After a WBEZ inquiry, the state is evaluating whether that should change.

Chicago Sun-Times

Disparities in COVID-19 vaccinations cost 255 lives in Chicago last year

The Alpha and Delta variant waves left 342 Chicagoans dead in less vaccinated parts of the city. That toll could have been 75% lower if more people had been inoculated, University of Chicago Medicine researchers found.

Chicago Sun-Times

Eight Illinois counties hit high risk level for COVID-19 — and Cook County’s not far behind

Cases have been on the rise statewide since mid-March, or a few weeks after Gov. J.B. Pritzker lifted his indoor mask mandate.

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Chicago Sun-Times

Bare your arm, cover your face: Officials push COVID-19 boosters, masking as cases hit 3-month high

With cases on the rise statewide, only about 41% of eligible Chicagoans have gotten their recommended COVID-19 booster shot. And almost a quarter of Illinois counties are now at the CDC risk level in which older people and the immunocompromised are urged to mask up indoors.

Chicago Sun-Times

Audit faults LaSalle Veterans Home staff, public health department for COVID crisis response

Illinois Republicans were anxiously awaiting the 154-page report, which they said shows ‘when it comes to protecting our state’s most vulnerable’ Gov. J.B. ‘Pritzker is a failure.’ But the governor said, ‘I did hold people accountable, and I did fire people who are in those positions,’

Chicago Sun-Times

Cook, Lake counties join DuPage at medium COVID risk level set by CDC

Suburban Cook County’s case rate has jumped to 210 per 100,000 residents over the last week, meaning masks are advised indoors for the immunocompromised and people 50 or older.

Chicago Sun-Times

Highest COVID-19 case count for Illinois in two months

The state public health department has noted that severe cases ending in hospitalization or death have remained very low — though hospital figures are now on the rise.

Chicago Sun-Times

COVID-19 risk level increases to ‘medium’ in DuPage County as cases rise statewide

Three other Illinois counties have also seen their risk level elevated from “low” to “medium” under the latest CDC guidelines. The entire state was in the “low” category until about a month ago when coronavirus cases began to rebound.

Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois COVID case rise ramps up — but ‘different than what we were seeing earlier,’ officials say

Illinois is now averaging 2,560 cases per day over the past week, a rate that has shot up 138% in the past month. Hospital admissions have also been creeping up. About 39 COVID-positive Illinoisans have checked into hospital beds each day over the past week, a 30% increase since April…

Chicago Sun-Times

Rising COVID-19 cases prompt warnings for Illinoisans ‘to remain vigilant and remain up to date’ on vaccine shots

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,340 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the highest daily count in two months and the latest red flag in the state’s three-week upswing in infections.

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