Friday, April 14, 2023
“It continues to be welcome news that COVID-19 community levels are remaining low throughout most of Illinois,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “However, as spring arrives so does the potential for common springtime illnesses.”
Now that spring is officially upon us, sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between the symptoms of COVID-19 and Seasonal Allergies. Below are some ways to help differentiate so you can choose the proper treatments and interventions.
Symptoms of COVID-19:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dry cough
- High fever
- Body aches
- Chills
- Loss of taste or smell
Symptoms of Allergies:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Headaches
- Congestion
The most obvious difference is body aches, dry cough, or a the high fever, which are unique symptoms of COVID-19 and other viruses compared to allergies.
To avoid expose to the virus, remember to social distance, wear a mask, get vaccinated or boosted, and always keep 3 at-home test kits on hand, just in case. To find vaccine locations, go to vaccines.gov and find your local vaccine clinic.
If you test positive for COVID-19, your physician can prescribe Paxlovid, which has been shown to be effective at reducing symptoms and length of the virus.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced today there is one county in the AgeGuide service area, Kankakee County, at Medium Community Level for COVID-19. There are no counties at High Level for the third straight week. The department is reporting 7,195 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois in the week ending April 2.
Illinois’ state public health emergency will end on May 11th, aligning the state with the federal government’s decision to end the national public health emergency. But that doesn’t mean we can stop doing our part to ensure those who are immunocompromised stay safe. Keep washing your hands, masking if sick, and testing as needed!
