Reopening of mass vaccination sites, free tests at home – NBC Chicago

A number of mass vaccination sites are set to reopen this week in suburban Chicago as health officials seek to curb rising COVID cases.

Meanwhile, a website set up by the government to offer millions of free at-home COVID tests to Americans will soon be accepting orders.

Here’s what you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic in Illinois today:

Cook County mass vaccination sites will reopen this week

In an effort to curb the increase in COVID-19 infections caused by the current omicron surge, three large mass vaccination sites in Cook County are expected to open in the coming days.

County officials closed the remaining mass vaccination sites in July, evoking a change of strategy due to a sharp drop in attendance. Instead, health officials have implemented a hyperlocal model, holding clinics at festivals and other community gatherings.

In a press release Monday, Cook County Health announced the reopening of vaccination sites in Des Plaines, Forest Park and Matteson “to provide increased access to vaccinations during this surge.”

Details on what snaps you can get and when.

Booster Shots and Omicron: Side Effects, Eligibility and More

The omicron variant has led to an increased push for booster shots across the country, with more ages becoming eligible and some groups now able to get their extra dose earlier than others.

Across Illinois, booster clinics have sprung up in recent weeks, including in several Chicago-area suburbs over the weekend. Mass vaccination sites are reopening in a number of Cook County suburbs this week, offering booster shots as well as initial doses.

But what do we know about the effectiveness of booster shots, side effects and more, especially around the omicron variant?

Here’s what we know so far.

You can order free COVID tests from the government later this week. here’s how

From this week, free rapid home COVID tests will be available to order on a government website. But how many can you get, when will they arrive, and what tests are available?

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect.

Omicron, flu, allergies: how to differentiate the symptoms?

If you’re wondering if that runny nose, sore throat, or sneezing is just allergies, just a cold, or maybe early signs of COVID-19 or the flu, you’re not alone.

With so many cold symptoms and with the rise in COVID and flu cases this winter, it can be difficult to decipher what could be causing the symptoms to appear.

Experts say the only real way to know the answer is to test, but until then health officials say treat all possible symptoms like COVID.

“If you think it’s a cold, if you think it’s the flu, it’s probably COVID,” said Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady. said at a press conference late last month. “We need you to stay home if you’re not feeling well.”

Read more here.

Do you need a vaccine to fly? CDC air travel guidelines and what else to know

As the omicron variant surges, questions are swirling online about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s travel advice, particularly regarding testing and vaccines.

The specific requirements and guidelines largely depend on where you are and where you are going.

Here’s what you need to know.

Former Chicago alderman seeks release from prison over COVID reasons

A former Chicago city councilman convicted of tax evasion has requested early release from prison due to his age, medical condition and the omicron-fueled COVID-19 surge.

Lawyers for Edward Vrdolyak filed an emergency motion on Friday, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Lawyers said the 84-year-old suffered from medical conditions, including dementia, and a weakened immune system, which would put him at higher risk of serious illness or death.

Read more here.

Chicago cites restaurants and gyms for COVID vaccine violations

Chicago officials have handed out more than 30 citations to businesses for failing to enforce the city’s requirement that people show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations in many locations.

The order went into effect Jan. 3, and as of Wednesday, the city’s Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Agency had issued 32 citations to 16 businesses.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the businesses include restaurants, fitness centers, a swim school and a children’s playground.

Read more here.

Is dizziness a symptom of COVID-19? What there is to know

COVID-19 can cause a large number of symptoms with fever, cough and fatigue among those most commonly reported.

But it’s also important to be aware of less common symptoms, such as dizziness.

According to a article published in the National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health of the United States.

The doctors who wrote the article say the results are not surprising, as dizziness has always been associated with viral infections.

Read more here.

Here’s what you should do after a positive COVID test, according to the CDC

As the omicron variant continues to drive up the number of COVID cases, some people may be facing the prospect of testing positive for the coronavirus for the first time, and may not know what to do if that diagnosis occurs.

In the state of Illinois, nearly 2.6 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported over the past two years, and last month saw the highest case count of the entire pandemic in the state. ‘State.

Fortunately, most cases of COVID-19 eventually produce mild symptoms, and there are a series of steps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you take if you test positive for the virus.

Read more here.

What if you test positive for COVID after quarantine? Here’s what the CDC says to do

If you test positive for COVID-19 after quarantine and you no longer have symptoms, do you still need to stay in isolation?

According to Centers for Disaster Control and Prevention, a person is encouraged, but not required, to take a coronavirus test after being quarantined for five days after diagnosis.

After five full days, a person can end the isolation period if they have been fever-free for 24 hours without fever medication and if other symptoms have improved, the CDC wrote online.

Read more here.