COVID Pointers Forward of the Holidays – NBC Chicago

With simply over 20 days till Thanksgiving and simply over 50 days till Christmas, vacation gatherings are already on the minds of many People.

So what occurs in case you take a look at constructive for COVID proper earlier than the vacations? Have the rules modified?

This is what you might want to know in regards to the coronavirus pandemic throughout Illinois immediately.

What to Do If You Take a look at Constructive for COVID Proper Earlier than a Thanksgiving Or Vacation Gathering

The vacation season is across the nook, and also you’re in all probability trying ahead to in-person celebrations with family members.

And although you may not wish to give it some thought, testing constructive for Covid simply earlier than a type of gatherings might put an actual damper in your holidays.

So, if that occurs, what must you do? There is a brief reply and a protracted reply, consultants say.

Learn extra here.

Is Lack of Scent Nonetheless a COVID Symptom? Chicago’s Prime Physician Weighs In

With every new subvariant of COVID, scientists have stated {that a} lack of a way of odor has turn into much less and fewer frequent, however Chicago’s prime physician says that sufferers can nonetheless expertise points in the event that they contract the virus.

Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Division of Public Well being, stated throughout an availability Tuesday that lack of odor happens in lower than one-in-five circumstances involving omicron subvariants of COVID, however warned that it’s nonetheless a attainable difficulty that sufferers might should take care of.  

“It’s not essentially the most typical symptom, however particularly if any individual’s by no means had COVID, you completely can lose your sense of odor with omicron, identical to you possibly can with all the different variants which have come earlier than,” she stated.

Learn extra here.

What Are the Aspect Results of a COVID and Flu Shot on the Similar Time?

Whereas unwanted side effects extensively differ for every particular person, some individuals are questioning if getting each vaccines on the similar time makes them extra more likely to expertise sure unwanted side effects.

In accordance with Chicago’s prime physician Allison Arwady, the unwanted side effects skilled possible should do together with your immune system.

For these experiencing extra intense, sturdy unwanted side effects that are not long-lasting, which may be the signal of a strong immune system, based on Arwady.

Moreover, Arwady stated that those that have skilled sturdy unwanted side effects for earlier vaccines ought to keep away from getting the flu and COVID pictures on the similar time.

Nonetheless, those that have not seen extreme unwanted side effects previously should have no problem getting each of the pictures directly.

Learn extra here.

The right way to Handle COVID Consolation Ranges As Holidays Strategy

Now greater than ever, individuals’s attitudes towards COVID consolation and danger are altering, consultants say. Meaning it is more durable than ever to seek out two individuals with the identical method towards the virus, and it is making {our relationships} more durable to handle.

The explanation: Many individuals at the moment are extra targeted on their very own danger than the chance they pose to others, says Virginia Tech epidemiologist Lisa Lee. Somebody up-to-date on their COVID vaccines would possibly attend a big social gathering today, with out contemplating the chance of doubtless spreading the virus to high-risk family members.

That is a near-complete reversal from the pandemic’s starting, when “we had been all afraid and rather more keen to do issues to guard one another towards the brand new illness,” Lee tells CNBC Make It.

Learn extra here.

As Circumstances Creep Upward, Right here Are 5 Frequent Questions About COVID, Vaccines and Extra

Coronavirus circumstances are slowly on the rise in Illinois and throughout america, and with that residents are asking loads of questions in regards to the sickness.

Scientists and officers have anticipated will increase in circumstances due to new variants, which have proven some resistance to sure therapies, and due to colder climate pushing extra individuals to spend time indoors.

Regardless of the case, there are some commonly-asked questions on COVID, and we’re right here to offer some solutions from consultants and scientists.

Learn extra here.

As New COVID Variants Emerge at a Quicker Tempo, This is What You Must Know

Throughout a coronavirus replace Friday, Chicago’s prime physician stated that new COVID variants are rising “extra shortly proper now,” doubtlessly marking a turning level within the pandemic because it enters its third winter.

Whereas not one of the latest rapidly-rising subvariants have reached the brink of “variant of concern,” they’re being carefully monitored as colder climate shifts extra actions indoors.

In accordance with CDPH Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady, all the rising variants stay below the omicron umbrella.

Learn extra here.

Illinois Seeing ‘Uptick’ in COVID Circumstances, Well being Division Says

Illinois noticed an “uptick” in COVID circumstances throughout the final week, the state’s well being division stated Friday.

With the number of counties under a “high” community level for the virus rising from three to 5 this week, and one other 33 at a “medium” degree, per pointers set by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, the Illinois Division of Public Well being urged residents to get new bivalent booster pictures alongside flu vaccines earlier than the vacation season. Residents in counties below a excessive alert degree are urged to put on masks in public areas.

Learn extra here.

Masks Beneficial in 5 Illinois Counties With ‘Excessive’ COVID Group Degree

Masks are advised in 5 Illinois counties which have returned to “excessive” COVID neighborhood degree standing following a rise in weekly metrics, based on the newest replace from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

Residents within the 5 counties are suggested to take precautions towards the virus, together with carrying masks in indoor areas and staying away from giant gatherings if they’re immunocompromised or produce other frequent danger elements for extreme sickness in the event that they contract COVID.

Learn extra here.

New COVID Variants Rising ‘Extra Shortly’ Now. This is What That Alerts

New COVID variants are rising “extra shortly proper now,” Chicago’s prime physician stated throughout a coronavirus replace Friday, and that might sign a shift heading into colder months.

Learn extra here.

Chicago’s Prime Physician Offers COVID Replace Forward of Halloween, Vacation Season

Chicago’s prime physician delivered a COVID-19 replace Friday forward of Halloween and the upcoming vacation season.

Chicago Division of Public Well being Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady and different metropolis well being officers held a press convention to debate bivalent booster uptake, protections for the winter and vacation seasons and extra. 

‘Nightmare’ and ‘Scrabble’: How Anxious Ought to You Be About New COVID Variants?

As new COVID variants emerge, equivalent to XBB and BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, they’re additionally producing new names just like the “nightmare variant” or “scrabble variants.” However what does that imply and the way apprehensive must you truly be?

Whereas the BA.5 subvariant stays the dominant pressure in america this week, a number of different new types of the virus are gaining floor, and physicians warn that some therapies towards the sickness is probably not efficient towards them.

Learn extra here.

DuPage County to Completely Shut COVID-19 Testing Website

The DuPage County Well being Division introduced that it’ll shut its COVID-19 testing facility on the Dupage County Fairgrounds later this week.

In accordance with a press launch, the division will shut the location down on Friday.

The division cites the widespread availability of different testing websites and at-home COVID assessments, and says residents can discover data on additional sites at this link.

Greater than 60,000 assessments had been performed on the fairgrounds.

BQ.1, BQ.1.1 Variants, Immune to Some COVID Remedies, Proceed to Acquire Floor in U.S.

The BA.5 subvariant of COVID-19 stays the dominant pressure in america this week, however a number of different new types of the virus are gaining floor, and physicians warn that some therapies towards the sickness is probably not efficient towards them.

In accordance with the newest knowledge from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, BA.5 is making up roughly 62.2% of COVID circumstances within the U.S. That subvariant has been the dominant pressure of COVID since early July, nevertheless it’s quickly declining as different strains take maintain.

Learn extra here.

Chicago-Space Medical doctors Predict ‘Explosion’ of Flu, RSV and COVID This Fall and Winter

As temperatures drop and restrictions like vaccination and masks mandates proceed to ease, Chicago-area medical doctors are bracing for what they’re predicting might be a “doubtlessly scary chilly and flu season.”

One of many fundamental causes, well being consultants say, is a lag in eligible individuals opting to obtain the flu shot and COVID bivalent booster.

Learn extra here.

I Have COVID, Now What Ought to I Do? This is the Newest Steering

For individuals who contract COVID for the primary time or who take a look at constructive following up to date pointers from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention this summer time, there could also be some uncertainty about what to do subsequent.

For those who had COVID beforehand and adopted the right steering, you may must take be aware as the present suggestions aren’t the identical as earlier than. The CDC final modified its quarantine and isolation steering in August.

Learn extra here.

Most Frequent COVID Signs Have Modified, Examine Says. This is Why and What They Are

Whereas those that contract COVID-19 might come down with certainly one of greater than 20 signs, that is not the case for everybody. Some individuals who take a look at constructive can develop a number of signs whereas others might not even expertise any.

And in case you do come down with COVID after having it one other time earlier than, the signs you have got – and severity of them – could also be drastically totally different than the opposite time you had been contaminated. As revealed by a latest examine, there could also be a purpose for that.

Learn extra here.

How Lengthy Can You Proceed to Take a look at Constructive for COVID-19?

As considerations over COVID-19 rise heading into the winter months, many are questioning how lengthy they will count on to check constructive within the occasion of contracting COVID.

With the newer intervals, the incubation interval, the time between once you’re contaminated to when signs seem, has dropped to a few days, Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Division of Public Well being, has stated. Most components with each the aforementioned strains have moved quicker in comparison with others, the physician famous.

Learn extra here.