Due to a recent increase in the COVID-19 community risk level in Evanston, the City’s Health and Human Services Department is reminding residents of the importance of following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s mitigation recommendations including wearing a mask when indoors, testing and staying up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
The CDC looks at a combination of three metrics to determine the COVID-19 community risk level: new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days. The community risk level is adjusted weekly.
As provided in yesterday’s report, over the last seven days Evanston has reported 397 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, putting the current seven-day moving average of daily confirmed cases at 56.71. According to the CDC, coupled with other metrics, this puts Evanston at a high COVID-19 community risk level.
Mitigation recommendations
While a mask mandate is not being reinstated at this time, Evanston’s Health and Human Services Department highly recommends:
- Wearing a mask indoors in public regardless of vaccination status.
- Wearing a mask or respirator that provides greater protection if you are a high risk individual for severe disease.
- Wearing a mask if you have symptoms, a positive test, or have had an exposure to someone with COVID-19.
- Socializing outdoors if possible and avoiding poorly ventilated indoor settings.
- Getting tested before attending a family or public event. Home tests are ideal for this purpose.
- Contacting your doctor right away to get treatment for COVID-19 if you are diagnosed.
- Staying up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
- Following CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.
The Health and Human Services Department continues to evaluate and monitor COVID-19 data and will provide recommendation updates as necessary.
“Evanstonians have done a wonderful job following health guidance for over two years and lives were saved because of it,” said Mayor Daniel Biss. “As COVID-19 cases begin to increase again, it’s important that we remain vigilant and continue to do our part to keep ourselves and our neighbors safe and healthy.”
To date, Evanston has had 12,788 total confirmed cases, and 148 residents have died of illness or complications related to COVID-19. View the city’s interactive COVID-19 dashboard (view on mobile).
On a weekly basis, the city assembles COVID-19 data into a report that can be found on the city’s COVID-19 webpage under “Communication Updates.”
Submitted by City of Evanston