Chicago, Cook County Jump Into High COVID-19 Community Category

CHICAGO — Chicago and Cook County officially joined other local communities as those that are now considered to have a high rate of new COVID-19 cases, health officials announced on Thursday night.

But, despite the new categorization that is determined by standards set by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, local health officials said they do not expect to have to re-introduce mask mandates or requirements for proof of vaccination as the long holiday weekend approaches.

Cook County is now listed as being in the high COVID-19 community category along with DuPage, Lake, McHenry, Will, Grundy, Boone and Winnebago counties in the northern Illinois, area, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Six central Illinois counties are also listed in the high community category while, 30 Illinois counties remain in the medium category.

The jump into the high category comes as the city is bracing for an influx of visitors ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, city health officials said in a news release.

“As we approach the summer and the long holiday weekend for Memorial Day, it’s important for our city to safely welcome visitors and reassure them, as well as our residents, that we are taking public health measures,” Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection commissioner Kenneth Meyer said in the release.

“As a doctor, I’ll just reiterate we are not reinstating the mask or vaccine requirements mandates because the health system in Chicago remains stable. However, as cases do remain high, we strongly encourage residents and visitors to wear masks. ... I also encourage everyone to get vaccinated and get their booster shots as soon as possible.”

Dr. Allison Arwardy, Chicago’s health commissioner, said in a news conference on Thursday that she believes Chicago jumped into the high community category because of a recent surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations. The CDC considers a region to be in the high category if it reaches 10 new admissions per 100,000 residents. The city was at 9.8 per 100,000 last week before health officials saw the increase this week.

Arwady said that she expected Chicago to hit the new category on Friday.

She said the city is averaging 290 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over the past seven days, which is above the goal of 200 new cases. Cook County, meanwhile, is averaging 367 new cases per 100,000 residents.

Arwady said she is recommending that people avoid crowded indoor gatherings, get tested if they show any flu or COVID-like symptoms, and make a preventive plan of treatment with a primary doctor for immunocompromised people.