Illinois is seeing lower COVID-19 rates thanthe rest of the country, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Why it matters: Positivity rates are popping off as the "stratus" COVID variant surges throughout the country.
Summer outbreaks of COVID aren't surprising, especially as many children head back to school. But this recent COVID-19 wave comes as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unilaterally changed federal COVID vaccine recommendations.
Zoom in: While 12 states have over 10% positive test results, Illinois is at 7%.
The Midwest region, which includes Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan, scores some of the lowest positive test results in the entire country.
The CDC updated its regional data for COVID-19 test positivity on Monday, Aug. 11. The data accounts for the week ending on Aug. 2.
Context: Though the "stratus" variant was first detected in January, it now accounts for 14% of cases in the U.S.
No specific symptomshave been linked to "stratus," though news reports suggest it can cause hoarseness.
