As the holiday season nears, Illinois is grappling with a surge in respiratory viruses, impacting communities across the state. The latest data from the CDC's National COVID Data Tracker reveals that COVID-19 hospitalizations have escalated in 44 counties, with an additional 39 at a medium level and five at high risk. The reported 20% spike in hospitalizations, totaling 1,039 new cases, emphasizes the severity of the situation for the week ending November 25.
This surge encompasses not just COVID-19 but a broader spectrum of acute respiratory illnesses, including flu and RSV. The limited capacity in pediatric ICUs across various areas within the state has raised concerns among officials at the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
To address these escalating concerns, IDPH has introduced an essential tool—the Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard. This user-friendly platform will be updated weekly every Friday after 3 p.m., providing real-time insights into hospital visits, seasonal trends, lab test positivity rates, and demographic data. The dashboard, launched on December 8, aims to empower residents with vital information during this surge.
Dr. Sameer Vohra, IDPH Director, expressed foresight regarding the increasing respiratory viruses, affirming, "We are seeing an uptick in respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, flu, and RSV, both locally and nationally." Dr. Vohra stressed the collaborative efforts with health partners to educate the public, monitor hospital capacities, and develop effective strategies. The newly launched Infectious Disease Surveillance Report stands as a pivotal measure to ensure residents' safety.
"Amid rising hospitalizations, I urge all residents to utilize available resources to safeguard themselves and their families," emphasized Dr. Vohra.
Amid this surge, the federal government has stepped in, offering resources and assistance. The NIH Test to Treat line and programs like the Merck Patient Assistance Program aims to provide access to no-cost care and medications for eligible patients.
Moreover, a comprehensive toolkit, provided by the federal government, offers information on accessing masks, treatments, vaccines, and testing resources across the country through https://www.covid.gov/.
