* In my own opinion, this is a good move…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is adopting new federal guidelines for tracking COVID-19 at the community level. The new CDC guidelines emphasize the case rate and hospitalizations in order to better track the prevalence of COVID-19 in communities. As a result of these new guidelines, testing providers will no longer be required to report some negative tests and IDPH will therefore no longer report test and case positivity.
In addition to adopting new CDC guidelines, IDPH is bolstering the data on its COVID-19 dashboard to provide additional information to help communities respond to changes in the course of the virus.
Among the new data that has been or will be shared on the IDPH COVID-19 dashboard are the following:
• Updated data on vaccination rates to reflect the full population eligible as eligibility continues to evolve.
• The number of people admitted to the hospital with a COVID-19 diagnosis.
• More detailed data on hospitalizations, including information about vaccination status in those who are hospitalized.
“Test and case positivity rates were seen as a good way to monitor the level of community spread early in the pandemic,” said IDPH Acting Director Amaal Tokars. “At this stage, now that we have vaccines and effective therapies available, it is more useful to rely on data that indicates the case rate, disease severity and the level of strain on healthcare system to guide our public health recommendations.”
The changes adopted by the CDC mean that states will no longer be required to report negative antigen test (rapid test) results – and are only required to report negative PCR and NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) results that were performed in certified labs. In addition, the widespread use of at-home tests means that national testing data is not as comprehensive or representative of population-based testing as it was before the introduction of at-home tests.
The CDC announced in March that is relying on these three metrics to determine the community level of COVID-19 and to classify it as low, medium or high:
• Total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days.
• New COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past 7 days.
• The percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.
IDPH officials note that case rates for COVID-19 are now slowly rising in many areas of the state. However, hospitalizations and deaths continue to remain low at this time.
Hospitalizations have basically plateaued in Illinois during the past month or so.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 9:13 am:
Seems necessary. Between vax and treatment options, the relationship between cases and hospitalizations (And from there, vents, ICU stays, and deaths) isn’t as direct.
And if people will remember, before this all got wrapped up into the “YOU DON’T LOVE TRUMP ENOUGH” culture wars, the big concern was overrunning the hospitals. Now that we can focus more directly on that, we should.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 9:38 am:
===IDPH officials note that case rates for COVID-19 are now slowly rising in many areas of the state.===
This is to be expected, but when it comes to people making day to day choices about their own risk factors I think there is a certain level of exhaustion that is preventing people from making reasonable choices. Is anyone making you eat outside? No. But is it still a good idea to dine outdoors if the option is available? Yes. Is anyone making you wear a mask in large gatherings? Probably not. Should you still be doing that? Yes. I’m not going to feel great about being in public unmasked until we reach the point when a visit to the physician’s office doesn’t require mandatory masking and people need to understand that they are still taking risks, even if their personal risk is minimal.
We’re at a point where we’re all gambling everyday and as a society we’ve bet big on no new major mutation that renders our vaccines and immunity through infection ineffective.
- One Trick Pony - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 9:42 am:
I’m not sure it matters what metrics are used to assess infections at this point because officer holders do not have the where with all to take any meaningful actions. Case in point, the December 2021 through February 2022 surge saw no meaningful action from the City of Springfield or the Sangamon County Board (masks were not enforced, public gatherings were not limited, etc…). Even as cases went over 1,000 a day and hospitals were pushed to the brink - nothing.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 9:53 am:
=== Let’s be honest… only reason many of this went away is because it is a down year election wise country wide for Dems.
If Trump was still President masks would still be here.===
Let’s be honest, do you have the data to show it’s insignificant to where it was? Where things are now? How about discussions to vaccinations?
===Disingenuous to think otherwise given how much JB was gripping to that one mitigation the longest with little to show for it.===
Wasn’t Illinois, statistically, better than surrounding states in Covid?
This… this is an honest assessment;
===We’re at a point where we’re all gambling everyday and as a society we’ve bet big on no new major mutation that renders our vaccines and immunity through infection ineffective.===
It’s also why the ridiculous folks who are “willing to gamble” and refuse to get vaccinated… or make vaccinations a policy… it’s those souls that are causing duress, not political angst to blame any party.
As far as I can tell, I don’t have the science, so bare with me, I don’t think a virus, which is of a global pandemic proportion, cares who currently is in the White House.
Someone can fact check the science to that, maybe poll the virus, I dunno…
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 10:00 am:
- Politics Drives Policy -
See, it’s funny when you don’t get that it’s me mocking.
It’s like a laser to a kitten.
To the science, have you looked up those numbers abd Illinois compared to neighboring states?
Are you vaccinated? Why or why not? Should vaccines be an important part of a new normal?
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 10:06 am:
= Let’s be honest… only reason many of this went away is because it is a down year election wise country wide for Dems.=
Tell me you are a trump worshiper and immune to facts without telling me.
- DeeLay - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 10:09 am:
We are not going to see the spike in positive cases go as high because folks who test positive with an at home test are not reporting it to IDPH.
Focusing on hospital capacity is focusing on the lagging indicator. So we won’t show we are having a problem until we are knee-deep in the problem.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 10:09 am:
Prefacing a statement with “let’s be honest” ensures what follows is only worth spreading on one’s garden.
- Keyrock - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 10:16 am:
I think Candy Dogood has it right. The risks to the system are reflected by the new guidelines, but individual risk of catching COVID is shaped by community spread. It’s not Omicron-surge high now, but it’s still pretty high in Cook County.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 10:19 am:
==only reason many of this went away is because it is a down year election wise==
You forgot to upload your degree in epidemiology from the university of facebook
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 10:36 am:
==We are not going to see the spike in positive cases go as high because folks who test positive with an at home test are not reporting it to IDPH. ==
Also bc there’s a lot more immunity out there, both from vax and from the massive Omicron exposure.
==Focusing on hospital capacity is focusing on the lagging indicator.==
Not necessarily. Between weaker variants and vax, fewer people who catch COVID need to go to the hospital (my entire family avoided it). We can also catch an increase in hospitalizations and make adjustments before the system is overwhelmed. The hospitals talked about this during the omicron surge, they have developed an ability to scale up in response to surges.
- illinifan - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 10:54 am:
I wish more emphasis was placed on testing of waste water for virus levels. It is a simple way to assess amount of virus in the community.
- Montrose - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 11:00 am:
I think this shift is good and reflects the types of issues government should be focused on now that we have ready access to vaccination and treatments. I know this transition is hard for many folks, but the reality is that the positivity data isn’t actually giving you good information regarding risk of catching COVID. Removing it from the metrics is the right thing to do.
Folks need to make decisions about their personal behavior based on their comfort level, risk tolerance, and the level of vulnerability around them. I am fully on board if we need to go back to mask mandates if a surge happens that risks putting hospitals on the brink. I am just weary of folks on both extremes, left and right, that are certain everyone is out to get them. The vast majority of us in the middle just want to live our lives and recognize self righteousness doesn’t help the situation.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 11:09 am:
==Should vaccines be an important part of a new normal?==
Yes, they definitely should be. Including mandatory vaccinations for all public employees. Including boosters. Not just COVID but make the annual flu shot mandatory too. With “consequences” for non-compliance.
Plus I am hoping and praying that I will be eligible for the fourth vaccine (or second booster) soon. I am under 50 but feel I’m immunocompromised due to weak immune system and having to take lots of prescription meds. Tried to get my doctor’s approval recently to get the second booster but was denied, although the nurse was optimistic my age range might get approved for it in a matter of months. Meanwhile, I refuse to return to the pre-March 2020 normal outside of work to some extent. And not giving up masking anytime soon.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 11:11 am:
==I wish more emphasis was placed on testing of waste water for virus levels. It is a simple way to assess amount of virus in the community.==
Agree. If that happens, I will not be surprised if COVID is found in at least one place’s muncipal drinking water supply. And considering the sad history of the water quality of South Sangamon Water Commission, we could be at risk for that here in Chatham, and perhaps in Springfield with the recent CWLP water problems.
- Groundhog Day - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 11:51 am:
At this point, I have no fear of “acute” Covid since I am fully vaxxed and planning my second boost on Friday. What I am afraid of is long Covid. In Great Brittan they are estimating 2.7% of their population is currently experiencing long Covid. I hope to work a few more years, and would not like to be sidelined prematurely. So I continue to mask, avoid indoor events, test frequently (for work and for a 2 year old in my life). Can’t wait until it is REALLY over.
- Thomas Paine - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 12:04 pm:
=== Not necessarily ===
Yes, necessarily. Hospitalizations tell you what COVID was doing three weeks ago, not what it is doing today. That means you not only do not know until much too late that cases are spiking, but you also do not know until much later that cases are receding.
More importantly, if you do not have reliable prevalence data to compare it to, you have no idea if the virus has mutated into something more severe.
Is # of reported cases an accurate metric? Probably not. Anything that relies on self-reporting is going to be much less accurate.
I agree with the above poster who said waste water monitoring is probably the best early warning indicator we have, but the truth is we are relying on Europe to tell us how bad things are gonna be in a month.
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 12:18 pm:
I’m also a big fan of waste water. I’d like to know is it safe to go out to eat? Safe to hit a movie (with popcorn), safe to visit an indoor convention? A simple indicator I can look at that tells me this information would be super helpful. And Wastewater seems as though it is the least likely to be warped by pols.
As it is right now I am back in the office part time (we have incredible ventilation). And not much elsewhere. A small grocery store on Saturday (not busy on Sat) and a couple restaurants that make more $$ on catering than in house (so not very occupied).
But spring is here and my trager is working well and all 3 STaffel (seasons) of Star Trek Discovery (in German) have arrived so I’ve got entertainment for quite a while. Plus works by Gade, Schumman and Nielsen to play through.
- Captain Who - Wednesday, Apr 13, 22 @ 2:45 pm:
Waste water is being looked at for Covid in certain areas in Illinois and around the country.
- The Dude - Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 6:21 am:
NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham- I will not be surprised if COVID is found in at least one place’s muncipal drinking water supply.
At some point you should be called out for being so paranoid you are actually spreading fear of something that isn’t possible.
They have looked into the idea of drinking systems and tested. So far not a single peice of evidence shows that its possible and not a single peice of evidence shows that its happened.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7528884/