Households across the country will once again be given the option of getting several COVID tests shipped to their home for free from the government.
But what do you need to do and when?
Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic across Illinois today.
Chicago's Top Doctor, Lurie Children's Hospital to Hold News Conference
Chicago's top doctor and experts from Lurie Children's Hospital are hosting a news conference Thursday afternoon to address the upcoming holiday season and winter weather as they mark the two-year anniversary of the first COVID vaccines administered in the city.
The announcement comes after federal health officials recently opened eligibility for the new bivalent booster shots to children under the age of 5, a move which experts also plan to deliver an update on.
The press conference is slated to take place at 1 p.m. and can be watched live in the player above at that time.
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How to Get New Free COVID Tests From the Government and When
Home across the U.S. will once again be able to get free COVID test kits from the government this winter.
Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter.
After a three-month hiatus, the Biden Administration is making four rapid virus tests available through covidtests.gov starting Thursday.
Here's what to know about the program and how to order your tests.
After Post-Thanksgiving Bump, COVID Metrics Remain Steady in Illinois, Data Suggests
The state of Illinois saw increases in both COVID cases and hospitalizations in the days after the Thanksgiving holiday, but those numbers have flattened considerably in recent days.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the state is currently averaging 3,232 cases of the virus per day. As of Wednesday, Illinois has reported 1,667 individuals that are hospitalized due to COVID-19 symptoms.
While both of those numbers are higher than they were in early November, they represent a flattening in metrics in recent days.
Read more here.
Hospitalizations Signal Rising COVID-19 Risk for US Seniors
Coronavirus-related hospital admissions are climbing again in the United States, with older adults a growing share of U.S. deaths and less than half of nursing home residents up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations.
These alarming signs portend a difficult winter for seniors.
One troubling indicator for seniors: Hospitalizations for people with COVID-19 rose by more than 30% in two weeks. Much of the increase is driven by older people and those with existing health problems, said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The numbers include everyone testing positive, no matter why they are admitted.
Read more here.
There's a Concerning Amount of COVID in Chicago Wastewater Right Now. Here's What That Could Signal
As COVID-19 cases continue to spike across Illinois, a concerning sign in Chicago shows that the increase is likely to continue in the coming weeks.
According to Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady, elevated levels of COVID-19 have been detected in the city's wastewater in recent weeks.
"Our wastewater sampling is actually at a high concern and that is consistent with what we're seeing across the country," Arwady said earlier this week, reflecting on the rise in cases that has affected much of the U.S.
Read more here.
Should You Wear a Mask Right Now? Here's What Experts Suggest and What Chicago's Top Doc is Doing
COVID cases have risen dramatically in parts of the country since Thanksgiving, leading some health agencies to recommend that people wear face masks once again.
Such recommendations are in place in approximately 9% of the country, which is currently listed at "high" COVID-19 community level status, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because of increases in metrics such as case numbers and hospitalizations, masks are recommended in those areas.
Read more here.
Masks Recommended in 29 Illinois Counties With ‘High' COVID Community Level Status
Masks are encouraged in 29 out of Illinois' 102 counties that have been raised to "high" COVID-19 community level status as a result of an uptick in weekly metrics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The latest CDC data showed a total of 74 counties, which accounts for nearly 73% of Illinois, are at an elevated status of either "medium" or "high." In all, 29 counties are listed at "high" status compared to 12 from the week prior, data showed. Forty five are deemed in the "medium" category, marking a decline from 51 counties a week earlier.
Read more here.
74 Illinois Counties at Elevated Community Level of COVID-19 as Cases Jump Across the State
COVID-19 cases have significantly risen across Illinois within the past week, with 74 counties now at an elevated community level of the virus. Twenty-nine of the 74 counties are now at a "high" community level of COVID-19, up from 12 last week, according to CDC data.
All counties in the Chicago metropolitan area are now at a "medium" COVID-19 community level, where masks are recommended for those who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease. Overall, 45 Illinois counties are at that same level.
Read more here.
