Know hope
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Jake Griffin…
At just 2.11%, the statewide seven-day case positivity rate for COVID-19 is at the lowest point since the pandemic began.
At the peak in November, the state’s seven-day case positivity rate had reached more than 13%. The statistic measures the percentage of new cases from a batch of COVID-19 tests and indicates the level of infection within the population. […]
In the suburbs, Lake County is reporting the lowest seven-day case positivity rate at 1.3%. McHenry County’s is highest at 3.2%.
The rate is 2.2% in Will County, 2.6% in DuPage County, 2.8% in suburban Cook County and 2.9% in Kane County.
* Know hope, but get your shots…
On Christmas Eve, Downers Grove Village Commissioner Rich Kulovany thought he was out of the woods with his COVID-19 diagnosis.
From his bed at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Kulovany texted a friend that he expected to be released soon.
But the next day, doctors transferred Kulovany to the ICU, attached him to a ventilator so he could breathe and put him into a medically induced coma for 16 days. […]
Kulovany spent 99 days in three hospitals: Good Samaritan, RML Specialty Hospital in Hinsdale (to wean him off a ventilator and a tracheostomy tube) and then Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton for physical therapy.
- Lovely Rita - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 6:56 am:
Please keep in mind that right now children under 12 CANNOT BE VACCINATED. If someone is wearing a mask, it may be because they have a loved one who cannot be vaccinated. Please do not judge persons until the vaccine is available to all and even then, please be respectful of the fact that every person has their own view of what is safe and what is not for themselves and their children.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 8:38 am:
Where do you get the county by county covid positivity rates, and is the state doing contract tracing now that the rate is low enough to avoid overwhelming the ability to do so?
- The Doc - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 8:53 am:
Speaking as a parent of kids not yet eligible for vaccination, that’s the main thing holding me back from relative normalcy.
- DuPage Moderate - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 8:54 am:
Agree Lovely Rita - but let’s also be respectful of those who are vaccinated and don’t want to wear a mask anymore in conformance with CDC guidelines. Two way street and whatnot.
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 8:57 am:
The thought of being around unvaccinated kids, even though my wife and I don’t have kids, is what’s keeping us from the “new normal.” For example, we’ve been sticking with only watching our church’s services live online instead of in-person despite both of us being fully vaccinated almost 2 months. Since we attend a large Springfield church with lots of young families and young kids.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 9:05 am:
I am 2 weeks out from my second shot today. I’ll still wear a mask on CTA vehicles because AFAIK the CTA is still requiring them. I’ll probably continue to do so in stores and other public venues whether it’s required or not.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 9:09 am:
DuPage Moderate, in public, whether vaccinated, or not, you should wear a mask out of deference to others who have no way of knowing whether you are vaccinated. It’s a simple kindness, and I’m not sure why, if one chooses to be out in public, a person would not do that until everyone who wants to get vaccinated, including children, can do so. Common courtesy and whatnot.
- Jibba - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 9:19 am:
It is all over the news that Pfizer is testing a combined flu vaccine and covid booster. Looks like that might be the future.
- don the legend - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 9:21 am:
Public Servant: Thank You, Thank You, Thank You
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 9:25 am:
==It is all over the news that Pfizer is testing a combined flu vaccine and covid booster. Looks like that might be the future.==
I figured that this will eventually happen, COVID booster shots being included in the annual flu shots most of us get each fall and winter. Good.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 9:25 am:
@PublicServant- perfectly stated.
During WWII our country pulled together an sacrificed for the greater good. WHy can’t we do something as effortless as wearing a mask for those among us that are vulnerable? We are getting so close, a small thing can go a long way.
“Patriots”, I am talking to you.
- Homebody - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 9:33 am:
It is so frustrating when people aren’t willing to follow through. We are so close to putting this stuff behind us in part BECAUSE of vaccinations, but now people who used to refuse to wear masks are now refusing vaccines “because look it is ending anyways”.
We should always be following Shao Khan’s advice: “Finish him/her/covid”
- froganon - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 9:40 am:
What Public Servant said. We were so lucky to have both shots early on. In small groups, when we are all vaccinated, we unmask. Out in public, my mask says Masking for a Friend in solidarity with all of those who aren’t protected.
- DuPage Dave - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 9:44 am:
After a year of bad news it’s great to start hearing good news about the pandemic.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 10:11 am:
===but let’s also be respectful of those who are vaccinated and don’t want to wear a mask anymore in conformance with CDC guidelines.===
The tweet of the incident at Johnnie’s Beef with a person refusing to wear a mask for service reminds me…
… this idea of a two way street when some businesses still want and require masks on premise… respect the business and don’t tell them to serve you, maskless, vaccinated or not.
- Lovely Rita - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 10:18 am:
DuPage Moderate - I agree with your statement. I’m okay with vaccinated folks not wearing masks in accordance with CDC Health Guidelines. Children under 12 will still have to wear masks so we plan to wear a mask in indoor public spaces to support our child. It’s hard to ask someone under 12 to wear a mask in a hot grocery store if you, yourself, are not willing to do the same.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 10:33 am:
===Where do you get the county by county covid positivity rates===
IDPH website, https://www.dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics?regionID=1
Go to the region of interest, then scroll down and you will find day-by-day test positivity per county.
- Dee Lay - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 10:35 am:
Lovely Rita - “It’s hard to ask someone under 12 to wear a mask in a hot grocery store if you, yourself, are not willing to do the same.”
This is absolutely going to be the case for a LOT of parents with smaller kids who need to lead by example.
We are not out of the woods yet, but the path is getting brighter every day.
- illinifan - Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 10:48 am:
Public Servant, well said. My 5 year old granddaughter caught COVID 3 weeks ago (thank goodness no symptoms), her mom who is fully vexed caught it as well (very mild symptoms). The crazy part is we would never have known about the little one having the virus if we did not have to test for travel purposes. Imagine her being out and about and spreading the virus to others as she was completely asymptomatic. That is why we need to mask until the little ones can be vaccinated.