Why This City Gives COVID Tests To All Workers Dealing With The Public
Behind a nondescript strip mall in Carmel, Indiana, a short line of cars gathers mid-afternoon next to a large tent. Medical professionals stand out…
News Around Illinois – April 15, 2020
1,222 New COVID-19 Cases & 74 New Deaths In Illinois CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,222 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, and 74 additional deaths. Most deaths occurred in the Chicago area, But deaths were also reported in Sangamon and Tazewell Counties in central Illinois, Jackson and Monroe Counties…
Watch: Coronavirus Task Force Holds Briefing Following Flap Over Governors’ Power
President Trump and the coronavirus response task force have scheduled a briefing at which he could unveil his new advisers — amidst a feud with governors. The briefing is scheduled for 5 p.m.
University Of Illinois Labor Unions Bargain For COVID-19 Relief
Labor unions across the University of Illinois’ Urbana campus are bargaining with administrators on issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. A group called the Campus Labor Coalition recently published an open letter to university administrators. The coalition represents graduate workers, faculty and other employees on the U of I campus. The coalition’s requests span issues…
News Around Illinois – April 14, 2020
IL House GOP Slams Governor On Handling Of Unemployment Claims CHICAGO – Illinois House Republicans in a press conference Monday said Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration has not done enough to address the tsunami of unemployment insurance claims from recent weeks. “I believe the state of Illinois has failed those Illinoisans who have been left out,…
‘A Whole Different Level Of Frustration’: Public Health Districts Face Unexpected Obstacles Fighting COVID-19
CHAMPAIGN – Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District has been working with the local health care system to mitigate the spread of the disease. The district’s pandemic plan includes taking action to notify and monitor people who may have been exposed to COVID-19, as well as work with local…
‘Their Story Matters’: How Broadcast Journalism Students In Illinois Are Reporting On COVID-19
One of Kenya Williams’s favorite classes is the broadcast journalism course she’s taking at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. That’s why she was devastated when she realized all of her university classes would be moving online in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Like many institutions…
News Around Illinois – April 13, 2020
CHICAGO – On Sunday, Illinois surpassed the 20,000 mark in total COVID-19 cases. The death toll now stands at 720 since the pandemic began. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Sunday’s death count of 43 is the lowest in six days. Sunday’s announcement showed 7,956 tests given, higher than what the state has been averaging. As more…
How Two Central Illinois Lawmakers Are Getting Work Done During The Coronavirus Outbreak
Concerns about the coronavirus have kept the Illinois General Assembly from meeting in Springfield for a month. And it’s not clear when they’ll be back in session — or back in their offices. The suspension of the spring legislative session in mid-March sent State Senator Scott Bennett and State Representative Mike Marron back to their…
15 COVID-19 Cases Reported At Decatur Long-Term Care Facility
Fifteen people at a long-term care facility in Decatur have been confirmed to have COVID-19, Macon County officials announced Saturday. The cases occurred at Fair Havens Senior Living, and involved ten residents and five staff members. The death of a Fair Havens resident from COVID-19 had been announced on April 7, along with news that…
News Around Illinois – April 11/12, 2020
1,465 COVID-19 Cases Reported Friday In Illinois CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,465 new cases of COVID-19 in the state Friday, including 66 new deaths. Most of the deathers were reported in the Chicago area. But fatalities were also reported in Rock Island County in the Quad Cities area, St. Clair…
Numerous nursing homes cited for problems in infection prevention programs
At a time when nursing homes nationally are facing outbreaks of coronavirus, a review of federal inspection data reveals that more than half of nursing homes in Illinois were cited for deficiencies in infection prevention and control in 2019. The review of the federal data on Illinois nursing homes by CU-CitizenAccess and the Midwest Center…
News Around Illinois – April 10, 2020
On 1-Month Anniversary Of Disaster Proclamation, 1,344 New COVID-19 Cases In Illinois CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,344 new cases of COVID-19 in Illinois Thursday, including 66 additional deaths. One of the deaths, a man in his 60s, occurred in Effingham County in central Illinois. The total of COVID-19 cases in…
Champaign Unit 4 Schools Distribute 1,000 Chromebooks To Students
The Champaign and Urbana school districts are distributing Chromebooks to students who need the devices. Champaign schools have so far distributed about 1,000 Chromebooks to district families, according to Unit 4 spokesperson, John Lyday. Courtney Harmon, an Urbana District 116 parent, picked up a Chromebook for her six-year-old son last week. Her son attends Yankee…
How COVID-19 Affects Services For Adults With Disabilities
Agencies that provide services to adults with disabilities have had to change the way they operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of Illinois’ shelter-in-place order, the Developmental Services Center has had to cancel all in-person programs at their building in Champaign. The agency has since relied on technology, whenever possible, to provide case management and…