CHICAGO - While COVID-19 levels in Chicago and Cook County remain in the Low Community Level they are starting to increase, according to the latest Community Level metrics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With flu season quickly approaching and respiratory viruses like RSV circulating widely in our communities and hospitalizing many children, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is urging all Chicagoans to remain up to date with vaccinations, which means getting the new, updated vaccine, known as the bivalent booster, to protect themselves, their families and their communities as we head into colder months ahead.

Overall, nearly 15 percent of eligible Chicagoans have received the updated vaccine so far, double the national rate of 7.3 percent.

“We are making some progress in administering the updated booster, but we still have a long way to get to get everyone protected,” said CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D. “Everyone age 5 and above who has previously been vaccinated against COVID-19 needs to get the Fall 2022 updated vaccine, the bivalent booster, along with their annual flu shot. It doesn’t matter if you have already had boosters—this is a new vaccine that protects against the new virus strains. If you haven’t been vaccinated since Labor Day, you have not gotten this new booster and you are not up to date.”

Dr. Arwady added: “I know people are tired, but COVID-19 is still very much with us. We are already seeing cases increase in Illinois and across the nation, and as we head into the holidays with people gathering indoors, the risk of spread will only increase. Please, give yourself and your family the gift of protection from serious illness: get your new COVID-19 vaccine and your flu shot now.”

As of October 25, more than 273,000 doses (up from 239,000 last week) of the updated booster have been administered to Chicagoans. Of those, 57 percent have gone to White/non-Latinx residents, 17 percent to Black/non-Latinx residents, 14 percent to Latinx residents, and 8 percent to Asian residents. In addition, 37 percent of doses have gone to residents age 60 or older.

The updated COVID-19 booster vaccine, known as a bivalent booster, is designed to better protect against the dominant Omicron subvariants BA.4/BA.5 that currently make up the majority of COVID-19 cases in Chicago. The updated vaccine has been designed specifically to protect against those variants, as well as to boost protection against severe outcomes from COVID-19. The bivalent booster generates a stronger immune response against current variants as well as the potential for broader protection against future variants. Details about the new bivalent booster vaccine can be found at Chicago.gov/Boost.

In addition to getting the bivalent booster, CDPH officials continue to urge all Chicagoans age 6 months and older to also get a flu shot to stay healthy and avoid serious illness.

The City is hosting a flu/COVID-19 vaccination clinic this Saturday, October 29 at Kennedy King College, 6301 S. Halsted St., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is recommended, but walk-ins will be accommodated. Primary series COVID vaccines for Chicagoans 6 months and up will be offered, as well as bivalent boosters for those who are eligible. CDPH recently added additional dates for flu/COVID-19 vaccination clinics at City College locations to be held through December.

In addition, CDPH has scheduled dozens of mobile vaccination events in the coming weeks to administer bivalent booster vaccines and flu vaccines for high-risk populations such as senior centers, Chicago Housing Authority facilities and other congregate living settings, as well as general vaccination events all over the City in partnership with aldermen and community and religious organizations. Find vaccination events in your neighborhood at Chicago.gov/vaxcalendar or call the City's COVID-19 Hotline at (312) 746-4835. Residents can find out where to get the updated vaccine at a pharmacy by visiting vaccines.gov.

The City continues to operate Protect Chicago At Home where we will bring vaccines to your home and for free. Updated COVID-19 vaccines and primary doses are available. New this week, we will also bring flu vaccines to your home as long as one other member in the household is receiving a COVID vaccine. Up to 10 people can be vaccinated at a time. Make an at-home appointment at Chicago.gov/AtHome or by calling (312) 746-4835.

COVID-19 By the Numbers

The number of new laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days across Cook County was 107 (72 last week), and the number of new weekly hospital admissions per 100,000 population was 8.8 (8.2 last week). The percentage of staffed inpatient beds in Cook County in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19 was 3.4 percent (3.2 percent last week).

The City’s COVID-19 case rate per 100,000 population is 95 (83 last week), and the number of new weekly hospital admissions per 100,000 population is 4.4 (4.2 last week). The percentage of hospital beds occupied by patients with COVID-19 is 3.2 percent (3.1 percent last week).

 Based on the latest data from CDC, Cook County levels are as follows.

The CDC determines COVID-19 Community Levels as Low, Medium, or High, based on the number of new local COVID-19 cases, regional COVID-19 hospital admissions, and COVID-19 hospital capacity in the prior week. The Levels were developed to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest local COVID-19 data.

When the CDC updates its COVID-19 Community Levels national map each week, the City of Chicago and suburban Cook County data are combined into one weekly case metric for Cook County. Hospitalization data, in contrast, reflect a burden on the whole federally defined Health Service Area, which includes hospitals in Cook, Lake, DuPage, and McHenry counties.

CDPH also continues to track and report COVID-19 hospital burden specifically for Chicago hospitals every day on its dashboard and uses this local hospital data to make further mitigation decisions. Visit chi.gov/coviddash for the Chicago COVID-19 daily data dashboard.

Halloween Guidance 

CDPH reminds people to celebrate Halloween safely by following this guidance:

• Do not hand out candy or participate in Halloween events if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 or feel sick, even if you have been fully vaccinated.
• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer before and after trick-or-treating. Eat candy at home, or after washing or sanitizing your hands.
• Masks are recommended when trick-or-treating in indoor public settings, particularly if you are at risk of getting very sick.
• A costume mask is not a substitute for a high-quality mask or respirator.
• Outdoor activities are safer than indoor activities.

COVID-19 Community Levels in the U.S. by County

Nationwide, cases are starting to increase after a long period of decline. More than 24 percent of U.S. counties at the Medium or High Level, and 76 percent at the Low Level. In Illinois, Community Levels also continue to increase: five of the state’s 102 counties are at a High COVID-19 Level (three last week), and 33 are Medium (23 last week). The remainder are Low. Travelers should be aware of whether areas they are visiting are Low, Medium, or High risk for COVID-19 by checking the CDC’s map, and take proper precautions, which should include reviewing CDPH’s travel guidance.

For additional COVID-19 news, see CDPH’s weekly update or visit Chicago.gov/COVID.

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