Epidemiological Factors Guiding Phase 3 Re-Opening
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that Chicago is on track to transition to phase three of the “Protecting Chicago” framework and will begin reopening on Wednesday, June 3. Cautiously reopening in phase three will still require strict physical distancing but will begin to allow for some industries to start reopening. Regardless of industry reopening plans, all residents should continue to abide by important guidance in phase three, including: physically distancing and wearing a face covering; limiting non-business, social gatherings to <10 persons; staying at home if you feel ill or have come into contact with someone with COVID-19; and getting tested if you have symptoms. City of Chicago services that had been closed to the public including parks facilities and libraries will begin reopening on Monday, June 8.
Below are updates on the various epidemiological factors guiding Chicago’s reopening decisions:
DECLINING RATE OF NEW COVID-19 CASES:
COVID-19 Case Counts (over 14 days, based on a 7-day rolling average):
Goal: Declining number of new cases, based on incidence and/or percent positivity
Progress: Daily case counts currently decreasing on average 1.7% for 7 days. Over the prior 7 days they decreased on average 2.9% (Black, non-Latinx counts stable or decreasing for 26 days; Latinx counts decreasing for 16 days; Asian, non-Latinx counts decreasing for 23 of 26 days; and White, non-Latinx counts decreasing for 25 days)
Severe Outcome Rate (over 14 days, based on a 7-day rolling average):
Goal: Stable or declining rates of cases resulting in hospitalization, ICU admission, and/or death
Progress: Hospital admissions declining by 13 days , ICU bed occupancy currently stable or declining for 18 days, Number of deaths currently decreasing by 2.5% on average for 10 days
Syndromic Surveillance:
Goal: Declining emergency department visits for influenza-like illness and/or COVID-like illness for 14 days
Progress: Emergency department visits among Chicago residents with influenza-like illnesses currently decreasing on average 2.2% daily over 27 days, Emergency department visits among Chicago residents with COVID-19 related illnesses currently declining on average 2.9% daily for 12 days
ADEQUATE HOSPITAL CAPACITY:
Hospital Capacity Citywide (over 14 days, based on a 7-day rolling average):
Goal: Hospital beds: <1800 COVID patients , ICU beds: <600 COVID patients, Ventilators: <450 COVID patients
Progress: <1,800 COVID-19 patients in acute non-ICU hospital beds, <600 COVID-19 patients in ICU beds, <450 COVID-19 patients on ventilators since beginning of epidemic
ADEQUATE TESTING CAPACITY:
Testing Capacity:
Goal: Ability to perform 4,500 tests per day
Progress: Currently conducting almost 5,000 tests per day
Testing Percent Positivity Rate:
Goal: Community positivity rate: <15%
Progress: Community positivity rate currently at 16.3%
Goal: Congregate settings positive rate: <30%
Progress: Congregate positivity rate currently at 15.2%
ADEQUATE RESPONSE CAPACITY:
Case Investigation & Contact Tracing:
Goal: Expanded system in place for congregate and community investigations and contact tracing
Progress: CDPH is in the process of greatly expanding its contact tracing and case investigation capabilities. As was announced earlier this week, this includes a Request for Proposals in which the City has allocated $56 million in COVID-19 relief funding for community organizations in areas of high economic hardship to train and certify a 600-person workforce to support contact tracing.