COVID-19

IHA is in close contact with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) as they respond to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, and its impact on individuals, communities and healthcare providers. For the latest information for healthcare providers and the public, see the updates below.

COVID-19 Vaccines

• CDC Recommends COVID-19 Vaccines for Young Children (6/18/22)
• FDA Authorizes Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccines for Children Down to 6 Months of Age (6/17/22)
• IDPH Endorses COVID-19 Vaccine Booster for Children Ages 5-11 (5/20/22)
• CDC Strengthens Recommendations and Expands Eligibility for COVID-19 Booster Shots (5/19/22)
• FDA Expands Eligibility for Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Booster to Children Ages 5-11 (5/17/22)
• FDA Limits Use of Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine to Certain Individuals (5/5/22)
• Medicare Covers Cost of Second COVID-19 Booster Shot (4/6/22)
• FDA Authorizes Second Booster for Older and Immunocompromised Individuals (3/29/22)
• NIH Study on Allergic Reactions to COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (3/9/22)
• NIH Director's Blog: How COVID-19 Immunity Holds Up Over Time (3/1/22)

See previous COVID-19 Vaccine Updates.

Federal Updates

• FDA Authorizes First COVID-19 Test Available without a Prescription That Also Detects Flu and RSV (5/16/22)
• COVID-19 Impact on the Hospital and Outpatient Clinician Workforce (5/3/22)
• CDC Recommendation for Masks and Travel (5/3/22)
• FDA Warns of Counterfeit At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests (4/29/22)
• FDA Approves First COVID-19 Treatment for Young Children (4/25/22)
• COVID-19 Was Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S. (4/22/22)
• FDA Authorizes First COVID-19 Diagnostic Test Using Breath Samples (4/14/22)
• Federal Government Effort to Prevent, Detect and Treat Long COVID (4/6/22)
• CMS Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate Compliance (4/5/22)
• Free Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests Available to Medicare Beneficiaries (4/4/22)

See previous Federal Updates on COVID-19.

State Updates

• IDPH Teams Up with ICAAP to Educate Pediatricians and Public on COVID Vaccines for Children Under 5 (6/15/22)
• IDPH and Discovery Partners Institute Announce Extension of COVID-19 Monitoring in Wastewater (6/2/22)
• Change from COVID-19 Individual Contact Tracing Calls to “Automated Case Notification” Begins 6/1 (5/23/22)
• IDPH Endorses Federal Authorization of COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose for Children Ages 5-11 (5/20/22)
• IDPH: $3.7 Million in Grant Opportunities for COVID-19 Health Equity Strategies (5/2/22)
• IHA memo: IDPH Updated Guidance on Pre-Operative COVID-19 Testing (4/19/22)
• IDPH Guidance on Elective Surgeries (4/18/22)
• IDPH Adopts New Federal Guidelines for Reporting COVID-19 Data (4/12/22)
• Community-Based COVID-19 Testing Sites to End Operations 3/31 (3/25/22)
• IDPH Letter: Preparing for Subsequent Surges of COVID-19 Infections (3/24/22)

See previous State Updates on COVID-19.

Chicago/Cook County Updates

• Chicago to Remove Mask and Vaccine Requirements on Feb. 28 (2/22/22)
• Cook County Plans to Lift Mask Mandate on Feb. 28 (2/22/22)
• City of Chicago Proof of Vaccination in Public Places (1/3/22)
• Order of the Cook County Department of Public Health: COVID-19 Mitigation (1/3/22)
• Reopening Chicago
• CDPH Public Health Order Amendment and Hospital Visitation Recommendations by COVID-19 Risk Level (12/16/20)
• CDPH Travel Order Exceptions (11/18/20)

See previous Chicago/Cook County Updates on COVID-19.

Equity Issues

• International Medical Graduates Seeking Temporary Placement During COVID-19 (3/23/22)
• Changes in COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Black and White Individuals in the US (1/21/22)
• Hospitalizations for COVID-19 Among US People Experiencing Incarceration or Homelessness (1/13/22)
• CDC Study of COVID-19 Vaccination of Homeless (12/3/21)
• IDPH Vaccine Demographics 
• IDPH Vaccination Plan Overview – Equity Centric Approach  
• Chicago Vaccine Data
• Protect Chicago Plus
• IDPH Health Equity Checklist (6/29/20)
• Guidance Relating to Non-Discrimination in Healthcare Services in Illinois (6/26/20)
• Rapid Racial Equity Response Outreach (5/1/20)
• Rapid Racial Equity Response: Suggested Practices (4/30/20)
• Guidance re: Non-Discrimination in Medical Treatment (4/10/20)

COVID-19 Waiver Requests

• COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers (updated 11/29/21)
• Granted State Waivers (12/17/20)
• Granted Federal Waivers (6/15/20)
• Medicaid & CHIP COVID-19 Disaster Relief Flexibilities (4/9/20)

Legal Policy

• IHA Memo: Illinois Patient Visitation Law Amended (SB 1405 / P.A. 102-0989) (6/2/22)
• IHA Memo: EMTALA & Patient Non-Discrimination – Reminder of Legal Requirements and Guidance (11/18/20)
• Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act Summary (11/18/20)
• IHA COVID-19 Legal Resources (5/7/20)

IHA Press Releases

• Statement From A.J. Wilhelmi, IHA President & CEO, Re: COVID-19 Vaccines (12/16/20)
• Leading Business and Health Care Groups Urge Safe Holiday Celebration (11/20/20)
• IHA Statement on Governor Pritzker's Action Today to Mitigate COVID-19 Surge (11/17/20)
• Hospitals, Doctors and Nurses Plead: “Don’t Let Your Guard Down. Keep Your Mask Up” (11/13/20)
• Illinois Business and Healthcare Groups Encourage Use of Face Masks to Save Lives, Protect Jobs (7/15/20)
• IHA Statement: Addressing Health Disparities (6/15/20)
• COVID-19 Pandemic Causes Surge in Cleaning Products Exposures (4/13/20)
• Help Us Help You: IHA Press Release (3/23/20)
• Illinois Hospitals Issue Plea for Medical Supplies (3/19/20)