PEORIA (Coronary heart of Illinois ABC) – The Facilities for Illness Management on Thursday raised the COVID-19 neighborhood transmission ranking to excessive for 15 Illinois counties, together with Peoria and Tazewell, prompting a name for individuals to train extra warning to curb COVID’s unfold.

Different Central Illinois counties with the excessive neighborhood transmission stage are Fulton, Knox, Henderson, and Mason Counties. The opposite counties listed are in northern Illinois. They’re Prepare dinner, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, Will, Grundy, Boone, Lee, and Winnebago Counties.

Illinois Division of Public Well being Appearing Director Amaal Tokars launched an announcement.

“With 15 counties in Illinois now rated at a Excessive Neighborhood Degree, everybody within the state must be paying shut consideration to the steerage from public well being authorities and taking motion to guard themselves, their family members, and buddies. Everybody ought to make certain they’re up-to-date with vaccinations and booster photographs. Carrying a masks in indoor public locations and avoiding crowded indoor areas as a lot as doable may also make a distinction. In case you are susceptible to extreme outcomes, you must also think about avoiding indoor actions in public locations. And in case you check constructive, promptly contact a healthcare supplier to debate which remedy is best for you. The therapies are rather more efficient at stopping hospitalizations and deaths when they’re taken early in the midst of the sickness.”

The state well being division stated the general public ought to comply with CDC suggestions for counties with excessive neighborhood transmission ranges.

• Put on a well-fitting masks indoors in public, no matter vaccination standing (together with in Ok-12 colleges and different indoor neighborhood settings)

• In case you are immunocompromised or excessive danger for extreme illness

– Put on a masks or respirator that gives you with larger safety

– Contemplate avoiding non-essential indoor actions in public the place you may be uncovered

-Discuss to your healthcare supplier about whether or not you must take different precaution

– Have a plan for fast testing if wanted (e.g., having house checks or entry to testing)

– IF YOU TEST POSITIVE: Discuss to your healthcare supplier about whether or not you’re a candidate for therapies like oral antivirals, and monoclonal antibodies

• When you’ve got family or social contact with somebody at excessive danger for extreme illness

– think about self-testing to detect an infection earlier than contact

– think about carrying a masks when indoors with them

• Keep updated with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters

• Keep improved air flow all through indoor areas when doable

• Observe CDC suggestions for isolation and quarantine, together with getting examined in case you are uncovered to COVID-19 or have signs of COVID-19

Extra data and COVID-19 information might be discovered on the state well being division’s web site.

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