CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- There's good news from the Chicago Department of Public Health regarding COVID-19 data, but Dr. Allison Arwady is not ready to say masks can come off.
The Chicago Department of Public Health reported Tuesday an average daily COVID case count of 369, moving Chicago from "high transmission" to "substantial transmission."
"With our current daily cases of 369, we are really happy to say we have seen this indicator move from high transmission or high risk back to substantial transmission or substantial risk," Dr. Arwady said. "We also have our test positivity, our hospital capacity, and our ICU capacity all back down at that lower transmission or lower risk level as well, which I am really pleased about."
What does this mean for masks?
"What I will say is first of all, as always, this is the first day we have been back down in this substantial risk category. We always want to see one incubation period. You want to make sure that where you're seeing progress like this, it is not just a blip, that you're holding it. But the news really does continue to look good," Dr. Arwady said.
She reminded people that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that in locations where there is either "substantial" or "high" transmission risk masks should be worn in indoor settings.
Dr. Arwady said city health officials are "in discussion" with the state on the future of the mask mandate.
"I have been talking to IDPH about the idea of, could you use a regional approach when it comes time to be thinking about masks for example," Dr. Arwady said. "But the other concern here is that as we are heading into colder weather, and frankly, moving indoors is likely to -- I would be surprised if we did not continue to see some increase in COVID cases."
