Chicago Residents Experience Uptick in COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations
As summer comes to a close, Chicago is seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, catching many residents off guard. Last week, Marnie Monogue, a 24-year-old marketing professional, experienced symptoms such as a tickle in her throat. Monogue initially dismissed it as sinus pressure from weather changes. However, after taking two at-home COVID-19 tests, both came back positive. Monogue suspects she contracted the virus during a recent trip to the movies.
According to the Chicago Department of Public Health, laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Chicago have increased by 27% compared to the previous week, with an average of 67 new cases per day as of July 28. Hospitalizations have also risen, with an average of 4.3 newly hospitalized Chicago residents per day as of July 22, indicating a 43% increase from the prior week. Cook County has seen a 13.6% increase in hospitalizations compared to the previous week, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationally, hospitalizations for COVID-19 have risen by 12.1% for the same week.
Despite the uptick in cases, local health leaders assure residents that there is no need to panic. Massimo Pacilli, deputy commissioner for disease control at the Chicago Department of Public Health, states that COVID-19 in Chicago is still “broadly under great control.” Doctors believe that this recent increase is unlikely to turn into a major surge due to the prevalence of antibodies from vaccinations and previous infections. Furthermore, the main circulating variants remain the omicron variants and subvariants, rather than new, more threatening strains.
Dr. Mia Taormina, chair of the department of infectious disease at Duly Health and Care, notes that the slight rise in cases was expected as historic lows were not sustainable. She believes that the numbers may continue to rise as children return to school and the weather cools, but expects the surge to be significantly smaller than previous waves. Taormina emphasizes that the situation is still manageable and should not cause undue alarm.
Dr. Sindhu Aderson, central region medical director of Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care Centers, shares that while she has noticed an increase in COVID-19 patients, she remains optimistic due to the high vaccination rate and the availability of antiviral treatments like Paxlovid for mild to moderate cases. Rush University Medical Center has not seen a significant rise in hospitalizations, according to Dr. John Segreti, hospital epidemiologist, although he acknowledges that there is often a lag between case increases and hospitalizations.
As fall approaches, doctors will closely monitor cases and hospitalizations in anticipation of the traditional respiratory illness season. Increases in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory illnesses often accompany flu season. Physicians hope that new vaccines for RSV and boosters for COVID-19 can help mitigate any potential surges.
In the meantime, doctors advise Illinois residents to be aware of the increase in COVID-19 cases and to take necessary precautions if they feel ill, such as staying home. Vaccination is strongly recommended for those who haven’t received it yet, and high-risk individuals should consider masking in public places. Testing is crucial for anyone experiencing symptoms, and those who test positive should avoid close contact with others. Overall, it is important for the public to remember that COVID-19 is still a present concern, even if it has faded from the forefront of our minds.