COVID-19 variants

Dr. Kalisha Hill, regional chief medical officer at Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet and Ascension Saint Mary – Kankakee, feels that people who haven’t yet caught COVID-19 just might get it now.

Dr. Kalisha Hill, regional chief medical officer at Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet and Ascension Saint Mary – Kankakee, feels that people who haven’t – yet – caught COVID just might get it now.

Nearly half of all emergency room visits by school-aged children and young adults in Kane County hospitals are for flulike illnesses.

Illinois is set to receive 580,000 doses of a new updated COVID-19 booster after two variations of the shot were approved Wednesday, according to the state health department. As a result, some pharmacy chains are requiring customers to reschedule booster appointments.

As of Friday, DeKalb County remains at “high” risk for community transmission of COVID-19, according to the state health department. Indoor mask use is recommended for all regardless of vaccination status.

The omicron BA.5 subvariant is evading protection from prior infections and vaccinations. But it's causing less severe outcomes.

As of Friday, DeKalb County is back at “high” risk for community transmission of COVID-19, according to the state health department. Indoor mask use is recommended for all regardless of vaccination status.

As of Friday, DeKalb County is considered at “high” risk for community transmission of COVID-19, according to the IDPH. Indoor mask use is recommended for all regardless of vaccination status.

Parents seeking a COVID-19 vaccine for their children as young as five can now go to the DeKalb County Health Department without an appointment needed. DeKalb County reported three new virus-related deaths this week and 55.8 cases per 100,000 residents.

As of Friday, DeKalb County is considered at “medium” risk for community transmission of COVID-19, and as a result indoor mask use and updated vaccines or boosters are recommended, according to the state health department.

DeKalb County residents have a chance to get free rapid COVID-19 tests, one per household family member, from the DeKalb County Health Department until supplies run out, according to a Wednesday announcement.

More than 350 additional COVID-19 vaccination doses were administered to DeKalb County residents over the weekend, according to state data updated Monday. Reported virus activity rose slightly.

Vaccination rates continue to climb slightly in DeKalb County as a weekly average of 144 was reported Friday, according to state data.

Vaccination rates and regional hospitalization metrics remained relatively unchanged over the past 24 hours in DeKalb County’s health region, according to state data Thursday.

DeKalb County’s weekly vaccination rate average is up, while reported virus positivity rates and hospitalizations remained flat Wednesday, according to state data.