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Evanston moves to 'high' level of COVID-19 transmission

By and FOX 32 Digital Staff
Published  May 13, 2022 10:26am CDT
Coronavirus
FOX 32 Chicago

Evanston moves to 'high' level of Covid-19 transmission

Over the last seven days, Evanston has reported 397 new COVID cases — compared to 305 from the week prior.

EVANSTON, Ill. - Evanston has moved into the "high" COVID-19 community risk level, health officials said Friday.

Over the last seven days, Evanston has reported 397 new COVID cases — compared to 305 from the week prior.

"Certainly don’t want to catch COVID, we have been vaccinated and boosted, but people are still getting sick, so pretty concerned about it," said Mary Jo Wenckus, who lives in Evanston.

Health officials said the current seven-day moving average of daily confirmed cases is 56.71. That's the highest they’ve seen since the omicron surge.

"Really spooky to be feeling like we’re going back to a place we thought we were done with," said Chamaya Moody. "I just hope we all keep our heads on straight and get out of this sooner rather than later."

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In order to determine the COVID-19 community risk level, the CDC looks at three metrics: new COVID admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, the percentage of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID patients and total new COVID cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days.

New COVID hospital admissions are currently considered to be at the ‘high’ level in Evanston; the percentage of staffed hospital beds being occupied by COVID patients is at the ‘medium’ level.

The change in risk level in Evanston leaves some feeling the need to mask back up.

"Just for my own well-being, so I know I’m taking every precaution I can," said Carol Marshall, who lives in Evanston.

Others said they aren't fazed by it.

"I’m currently not horribly worried about it," said Robert Compton. "There will always be new waves."

Since the start of the pandemic, Evanston has had 12,788 confirmed COVID cases, and 148 residents have died due to the virus or complications related to the virus, health officials said.

Evanston health officials are currently reporting that 97 percent of people 5 years of age and older have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.