The Cook County Omicron Case, What You Need to Know About the New Variant – NBC Chicago

Cook County has identified the first case of the omicron variant, marking the second case of the new variant in Illinois to date.

As more is learned about the variant and how it spreads, what has the research shown so far? Chicago’s top doctor broke down what we know so far.

Here’s what you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic across Illinois today:

Chicago schools provide COVID testing kits to disadvantaged areas

The Chicago Public Schools District will distribute approximately 150,000 take-home COVID-19 test kits on Friday to 309 schools in communities hit hard by the pandemic, the district announced.

“In Chicago, we’re in the midst of a post-Thanksgiving COVID surge – an average of 929 daily cases here in the city of Chicago. As the city goes, so does CPS,” said Dr. Kenneth Fox, chief medical officer of CPS, at the monthly meeting of the Chicago Board of Education on Wednesday. “As cases increase in the city, so does CPS.”

The district reported its highest weekly number of COVID-19 cases last week: 764 students and 246 adults. The district also reported its highest number of daily cases on Monday: 223 students and 59 adults. Last month, CPS recorded a total of 300 to 400 cases per week, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Read more here.

Omicron severity, symptoms, risk of breakthrough cases: What we know so far

Experts have said that more information about the omicron variant will be available in the weeks following its discovery.

Now, about a month since the new COVID variant was identified in South Africa and two weeks since it was first recorded in the US, what do we know?

Chicago’s lead PhD says that while we’re still learning about variation and research continues to evolve, an early review of the latest data has led to some of the findings to date.

Here’s a breakdown of what we know.

Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr Allison Arwady on Tuesday offered his analysis of the COVID-19 variant that is currently leading the rise in the Midwest. Although 99.9% of COVID cases are delta variants as of now, she predicts that the omicron variant will soon spread rapidly based on studies from other countries.

What We Know About Suburban Cook County’s Omicron COVID Case

The First case of omicron variant confirmed in suburban Cook County been reported, but what do we know about the person’s symptoms and how they were exposed?

Here’s what officials say we know so far about the incident.

Chicago, Illinois Marks One Year Since The First Dose Of The COVID Vaccine Was Used

Wednesday marked a year since the first Chicago and Illinois residents received their first doses of the coronavirus vaccine.

It was a scene that many people remember very well.

In Chicago, five health care workers sat in a room at Loretto Hospital, receiving the much-anticipated vaccine amid a pandemic that broke out just before the Christmas holidays. In Peoria, healthcare workers received the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine as frontline workers played a central role in the vaccine’s rollout.

Images of trucks loaded with refrigerators of COVID-19 vaccines filled TV screens as they distributed doses to hospitals across the country.

Here’s what has changed since vaccinations began last year.

CDC Guidelines for COVID Exposure: Progression, Quarantine, Infectious Period

What should you do if you or someone you have been in close contact with tests positive for coronavirus? How long are you likely to be contagious, what are the isolation guidelines, and when can you see people again?

Here are the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about what to do if you test positive or believe you have been in contact with someone who has the disease.

Accuracy of home COVID tests and more: What to know for the holidays

As more people prepare for holiday gatherings, the need for tests has increased, but for those using home testing methods, how accurate are they and should you rely on them? are they not?

There are several at-home options available, and Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr Allison Arwady recently advised using them before holiday gatherings.

Here’s what you should know.