As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise around the country and the delta variant becomes more prevalent in the Chicago area, local health officials are urging residents to remain vigilant.
In suburban Cook County, there have been over 257,000 cases of COVID-19 to date and approximately 4,500 related deaths, according to the Cook County Department of Public Health. Additionally, the number of delta variant cases has increased 55.5% in the past two weeks. The number of new cases of the virus being reported has also grown steadily since late June.
While the county health department oversees local COVID-19 response in almost all of suburban Cook County, Evanston and Skokie are among a small handful of towns that operate their own local health departments. Leaders in those towns say the recent spike in cases is a concern.
“The pandemic certainly isn’t over, and it’s really up to everyone to prevent the spread of the disease,” said Michael Charley, director of Health and Human Services for the village of Skokie.
Variants of COVID-19 are identified through genomic sequencing. Random samples are sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for sequencing, which helps determine which variants are the most common. Currently there are four variants of concern, with the delta variant being the most widespread.
The delta variant has been detected in both Skokie and Evanston within the past two weeks. This variant is more contagious as it exhibits increased transmissibility. The World Health Organization has labeled this a “variant of concern.”
Charley said that cases have been increasing in Skokie since July 4. The village is averaging 6.6 cases per day, compared to 1.5 cases per day in June. Charley said that this is “a little concerning” but the data is consistent with state case rates.
Ike Ogbo, director of Health and Human Services for the city of Evanston, said that his city is also experiencing increases in case numbers.
“We’ve seen a progressive increase,” he said. “Not as significant, but it is indeed a concern.”
Locally, public health officials say that vaccination is the best preventive measure residents can take against COVID-19. Both Evanston and Skokie have made major efforts to vaccinate their communities, including community events, mass vaccination sites and home vaccination programs.
“The great news is that getting the vaccine has never been easier,” Charley said.
Charley said the Health and Human Services department in Skokie is regularly in contact with the community to make sure the correct information and protocols are relayed.
Both cities have implemented a home vaccination program to help ensure equitable access to the vaccine. This service is intended to help individuals with mobility issues who cannot leave their homes. Cook County also launched a Destination: Vaccination program to give residents a free ride to their vaccine appointment.
In addition to vaccination, both directors said that continuing to practice social distancing will help prevent the spread of disease. This includes continuing to wear masks, washing hands and avoiding large gatherings.
“Vaccination is one of the tools that we have in order to get through this pandemic, in addition to other public health directives,” Ogbo said.
Residents are recommended to visit their local public health website for resources, including mental health services and vaccine assistance.
Emily Little is a freelance reporter.
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