Chicago, Cook County and several surrounding counties have all recently been designated as being at “medium risk” of their residents contracting COVID-19. 

That’s up from the “low risk” status the area was sitting at in recent weeks. Cook County now has a rate of more than 259 confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, according to the latest data. That has prompted health officials to encourage residents to mask up, but stops short of requiring face coverings. 

Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, joined “Chicago Tonight” to talk about what is driving the rising number of COVID cases in Chicago and the factors that may influence decisions around a return of mask requirements. 

“The fact that we’ve moved from low to medium for me is the beginning of a light of caution for people,” Arwady said. “We are asking folks to put those masks back on if you are in settings, especially where you don’t know vaccination status, indoors, etc.”