Chicagoans are now at a high risk of contracting COVID-19.

At the end of last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention elevated the threat level from medium, meaning there's also a high potential for straining the city's health care system.

Dr. Geraldine Luna, a medical director with the Chicago Department of Public Health, said Chicago’s COVID-19 metrics have plateaued and are slightly decreasing.

“We’re very optimistic that from now on we only can see nothing but better news in terms of decreasing cases and overall COVID impact in the population,” Luna said.

Luna said the city is seeing the lowest number of COVID-19-related deaths for the longest amount of time in the span of the pandemic.

“We’re seeing the benefits of vaccination,” Luna said.

During this high-risk period, guidance from federal officials recommends that residents wear mask indoors, limit gatherings to a small number of people and considering avoiding “higher-risk activities such as crowded indoor gatherings.”