Lori Lightfoot, the mayor of Illinois’ Chicago, tested positive for COVID-19 and has been experiencing “cold-like symptoms”, she said in a social media post on Tuesday. She has been fully vaccinated and boosted against the disease.
Lightfoot tweeted on Tuesday afternoon, “Earlier today, I tested positive for COVID-19. I am experiencing cold-like symptoms but otherwise feel fine which I credit to being vaccinated and boosted. I will continue to work from home while following the CDC guidelines for isolation.”
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According to reports from CNBC Chicago, the mayor is planning to follow the isolation guidelines– which have been issued by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention— and has plans to continue working from home.
Illinois’ Chicago has been reporting numbers that make the COVID-19 situation in the region unclear. While a drop was reported in new infections, compared to last week, the hospitalisation rates have spiked in the city.
Chicago is currently reporting an average of 4,793 new COVID infections per day. Hospitalisations have seen a steep increase of 37% in the last week, while the death toll has also climbed, according to reports from CNBC.
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Dr Allison Arwady, who heads the Chicago Department of Public Health, said in a statement on Tuesday, “This is still a very bad surge and I don’t want people to think otherwise. And I really don’t want people to think sort of it’s over, it is extremely not over”, CNBC reported.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a member of the Democratic party, responded to mayor Lightfoot’s announcement and sent his “best wishes for a full and speedy recovery”. He added, “I encourage all Illinoisans to follow in the Mayor’s footsteps and get vaccinated, get boosted, and get tested — it’s how we bring this pandemic to an end.”