Illinois reported 1,806 new COVID cases and 2 new deaths Monday. Chicago's top doc is warning that low booster rates could lead to a new variant.
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health says "daily deaths reported on weekends and at the beginning of the week may be low" and "those deaths will be captured in subsequent days."The Chicago area is seeing some of the lowest COVID community transmission levels since the start of the pandemic. Cook County and all surrounding counties are all in the green, low-transmission group.
As of Sunday night, 1,084 patients in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 121 patients were in the ICU, and 58 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.Chicago's top doctor warns slow booster uptake could lead to new variant While the Omicron-specific booster shot has been available for over a month, doctors say it's an uphill battle convincing their patients to get it.
"Here is the most remarkable fact: if you are up to date with your vaccine, and if you get treated with a breakthrough infection, you're risk of dying from COVID is now zero," Jha said.