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August 2, 2021

News • August 2, 2021

McHenry County urges residents to get vaccinated as community transmission increases

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McHENRY COUNTY — The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) is urging residents to take precautions after state and local COVID-19 data show an increasing trend toward substantial community transmission in McHenry County based on its 7-day rolling average incidence rate.

MCDH uses two indicators, incidence rate and test positivity, to determine community transmission rates at the local level. If the indicators suggest different transmission levels, the highest level is selected. Information about local indicators is available on the School Metrics Dashboard.

Data MCDH collects to track community transmission is based on a rolling 7-day average to better identify trends in transmission rates. The CDC uses daily rates and therefore could classify McHenry County at a different transmission level.

McHenry County’s health officials expect to see the number of cases increase in the coming weeks as the Delta variant, which has a 70% transmission rate, has been identified in the county.

“The uptick in COVID-19 cases is a reminder that the pandemic isn’t over,” said Melissa Adamson, MCDH Public Health Administrator. “Vaccines work and they are our best prevention strategy to disrupt transmission and end the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The MCDH is urging all residents who are 12 and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible to reduce the risk of severe illness caused by the virus and avoid quarantine unless symptoms develop if they’ve been exposed to someone with the virus.

People should continue practicing preventive measures like wearing a mask and physically distancing, washing their hands and avoiding crowded places. To prevent the further spread of the virus, individuals with COVID-19 need to isolate, and their close contacts, anyone they’ve been in contact with within 6 feet for 15 minutes, need to quarantine and get tested.

Rapid and PCR testing for COVID-19 is available at the McHenry mass vaccination site, 1900 N. Richmond Road in McHenry. MCDH is also vaccinating against COVID-19 at its Woodstock and Crystal Lake clinics on select days. For additional vaccine locations, please visit Vaccines.gov.