Chicago Department of Public Health Weekly Media Brief, 12/21/2023

December 21, 2023

CDPH Public Information     media.cdph@cityofchicago.org

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'Tis The Season... For Respiratory Viruses

As we head into end-of-year holidays, CDPH encourages Chicagoans to celebrate safely and look out for the health of the whole family by taking precautions against respiratory viruses. Virus season is in full swing, and hospitalizations for COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are all on the rise in Chicago. 

CDPH’s tips to protect your health as you celebrate: 

  • Stay up to date with the new COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines. Everyone ages 6 months and up should receive the new COVID-19 and flu vaccines to protect against the circulating respiratory viruses. Adults 60 years and older should receive the RSV vaccine. 
  • Stay home if you are sick, even if you are vaccinated for COVID-19, flu and RSV. Do not attend parties or events and test yourself for COVID-19.   
  • Speak with your doctor if you are sick. Treatments for COVID-19, flu and RSV are available. 
  • Wear a mask if: you have symptoms, a positive test for a respiratory virus, or exposure to someone with COVID-19; on public transportation and while travelling; if you are at high risk of contracting severe disease or immunocompromised; when visiting high risk family members. 
  • Test yourself for COVID-19 five days after an exposure. Every home in the U.S. can order an additional 4 free COVID-19 tests as of November 20. If you did not already order tests this fall, you may place two orders for a total of 8 tests: covidtests.gov 
  • Improve ventilation by hosting gatherings outdoors when possible, or by opening windows. 
  • Remember to wash your hands frequently throughout the day or use an alcohol-based sanitizer.  

 

Heat Watch 2023 Findings Released

On July 28, more than 550 Chicagoans signed up to volunteer, with nearly 100 chosen, to support community hubs or travel across three shifts in all of Chicago's 77 community areas to track temperature, humidity, time, and location as part of a one-day community science project. This week, the results were released! During last week’s Heat Watch 2023 Data Release Event, leaders from the Chicago Departments of Public Health and Environment, as well as several community partners, highlighted findings and centered community experiences around extreme heat. Using nearly 140,000 individual data points from Activation Day, residents and decision-makers alike can now look at the temperature variances from morning, midday, and evening, the paths traversed, and more. 

Read the full report at chicago.gov/coolchi. 

MAR Now Program Expanded

CDPH and the Illinois Department of Health and Human Service Substance Use Prevention and Recovery announced that expanded access to medication to treat alcohol use disorder is now available statewide by calling the Illinois Helpline as part of the MAR NOW program. The program originally launched in May 2022 to facilitate treatment access for Opioid Use Disorder by offering same-day referral to local treatment providers and medication. MAR NOW operates through the existing 24/7 Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances. Anyone in the state can be connected treatment by calling 833-234-6343. Read the full release on the CDPH website.

Happy Holidays From CDPH!

CDPH wishes everybody a happy and healthy holiday season as 2023 draws to a close - On account of the coming holidays, we will not be issuing a media brief next week, but we eagerly look forward to continuing our work promoting equitable health outcomes for all Chicagoans in 2024. Enjoy a restful remainder of December and have a healthy new year! e

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