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'Stealth' omicron variant detected in Illinois
The new omicron subvariant BA.2 has been detected in Illinois.
CHICAGO - For the fifth consecutive week, every U.S. state and four territories are on the Chicago Department of Public Health's COVID-19 Travel Advisory.
In order for a state to be removed from the advisory, daily COVID case rates must be below 15 per 100,000 residents for two straight weeks in that state.
Illinois' daily COVID case rate is currently at 139.6, which has decreased from 207.1 last week.
Chicago's daily case rate is at 38.3, which has decreased from 70.9 last week.
The nation's average daily case rate per 100,000 residents is 149.8, down from 200 last week.
According to the advisory, unvaccinated travelers should be tested for COVID-19 one to three days before traveling from any state on the list, and should quarantine upon arrival in Chicago.
The quarantine and testing recommendations do not apply to fully vaccinated travelers, who are traveling domestically.
While traveling, all individuals regardless of vaccination status must wear a mask on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations, health officials said.
"It’s a relief to see omicron receding, but we’re not out of the woods yet," CDPH Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said in a statement. "We are at least two weeks away from any state or territory coming off the travel advisory. People are still getting COVID, and they’re still being hospitalized. The fact is, you still have an extraordinarily high risk of COVID if you’re not vaccinated."
After traveling, unvaccinated individuals should get tested with a viral PCR test three to five days after traveling, and should stay home and self-quarantine for five days, even if you test negative.
If you test positive, isolate yourself.
Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days after traveling, whether you get tested or not.