April 6, 2021 – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Macon County Health Department (MCHD) have identified two COVID-19 variant strains of concern, B 1.1.7 and B 1.429, in Macon County through laboratory testing.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, variants of concern are those in “which there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease (increased hospitalizations or deaths), significant reduction in neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination, reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic detection failures.” When a person is diagnosed with one of the variants of concern, a 14-day quarantine is the recommended course of action to limit the spread of the illness further into the community.
Armed with this information as we continue to see an uptick in cases, we continue to urge our community to follow the public health measures intended to limit the spread of illness and the negative consequences associated with contraction of COVID-19. Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least twenty seconds. If there is no access to water and soap, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol until soap and water is available. Keep at least six feet of space between yourself and others and wear a face covering in public settings. Limit in-person gatherings. Consider getting one of the three COVID-19 vaccines available
