Illinois may face new COVID-19 restrictions as ‘high alert’ sounds

Proof of vaccination may be required in Chicago to enter restaurants, gyms, theaters and other public spaces. So far, the state is not considering a similar move but Illinois is on ‘high alert’ regarding COVID-19 transmission.

New COVID-19 cases has put Illinois into “high alert,” raising questions of new restrictions such as showing proof of vaccination to enter some public places.

The first case of the new omicron variant was detected Dec. 7 in Illinois. The Chicago resident, who was fully vaccinated and had a booster shot, tested positive in a hospital but was recovering at home.

“Omicron has many mutations that the other circulating variants don’t have and because it’s distinctive in that way, we could very quickly identify it as omicron,”said Dr. Mary Hayden from Rush University Medical Center, who discovered omicron in Chicago.

New COVID-19 cases statewide have pushed the daily average to over 7,100 cases in the past two weeks. The daily average for November was 2,603 cases.

One of the possible restrictions on the table for Chicago is proof of vaccination to enter some public places, saidDr. Allison Arwady, Chicago Department of Public Health commissioner.

“I certainly am more interested in that than I am in needing to do some of the major shutdowns,” Arwady said.

She didn’t list specific public places, but city leaders have looked to New York City’s mandate requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter places such as theaters, gyms, restaurants and bars.

Illinois Department of Public Health administrators said the state isn’t currently considering proof of vaccination for public spaces

As of Dec 10, 72% of Illinoisans age 12 and up are fully vaccinated and 79% have at least one dose. Those numbers are virtually the same in Chicago, with 71% and 78%, respectively.