The public hasn’t been allowed in Illinois’ public libraries for about two months, due to fears of spreading the coronavirus. Contact with public libraries has been limited to online services. But eventually, libraries will reopen to the public. And the staff at the Champaign and Urbana libraries are making plans for welcoming their patrons, while…
URBANA – As Illinois inches towards phased re-opening, Champaign-Urbana officials are preparing plans to re-open Champaign county as well. Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin says the city is reaching out to some 120 local businesses to get a sense of what they’ll need to transition to opening. “Each business is a story in itself, and each…
Rural hospitals have been planning for the arrival of the coronavirus, but the preparations for a virus that has not yet come are putting some already struggling rural hospitals in danger. Mike Gruenberg, director of disaster preparedness at Salem Memorial Hospital, a 25-bed critical access care facility, said getting ready for coronavirus patents meant making…
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, some of the biggest outbreaks have been concentrated in urban areas, like New York City and Chicago. But rural…
URBANA — Work began two months ago at the University of Illinois on an emergency ventilator to treat COVID-19 patients. Now, the new design has found a manufacturer. U of I mechanical engineering professor Bill King oversaw the team that designed — and tested prototypes — of the Illinois Rapidvent ventilator, all in about three…
A new report from the University of Illinois’ Institute for Government and Public Affairs identifies several ways the COVID-19 pandemic is creating challenges for health care workers and health care facilities. The report, which is part of an initiative from the U of I System to convene dozens of faculty experts to study how COVID-19…
Illinois has increased enrollment and improved access to preschool programs for children across the state, according to a recent report from the National Institute for Early Education Research. The group releases an annual report detailing where states rank on quality measures for things like curriculum and class sizes. This year, Illinois ranked third in the country…
While emergency medical procedures have continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, non-emergency or “elective” surgeries and medical procedures have been put on hold. But starting Monday, May 11, the state of Illinois allows health care providers to resume those procedures. Providers in east-central Illinois say they’re taking precautions to protect patients as they gear up to…
The Illinois Newsroom team is answering questions from listeners to navigate this unprecedented time. Have a question you want answered? Ask here. In today’s edition of “Ask the Newsroom,” we’ve answered questions on everything from the pause on evictions to DMVs remaining closed below! CARES Act Q: Will the state allow employees to take out additional…
A University of Illinois college-in-prison program created a reentry guide for those released from prison and jail during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every year, the Education Justice Project updates one reentry guide to reflect the latest information about resources available to those released from prison and returning to Illinois communities, as well as another guide for…
RANTOUL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is responding to the recent outbreak at Rantoul Foods, a meat processing plant located in Rantoul. Administrator Julie Pryde says OSF Healthcare is leading the effort to test the remaining 500 employees who have not yet been tested. Of the roughly 200 who have already been tested, Pryde…
Illinois Newsroom is working to find answers to questions we’ve received from listeners about the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some of those questions. Stay-at-home order updates Q: When will quarantine be over? Governor J.B. Pritzker extended the stay-at-home order through May 30. However, with the new order, some restrictions have been lifted. As of May…
The meat processing plant hit with a coronavirus outbreak came under scrutiny by health officials in March before it was cited for being more than 90% out of compliance with infection control practices last week. Public health officials said they visited Rantoul Foods – which had 47 confirmed cases of Covid-19 as of May 5…
CHICAGO – On Tuesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a new plan to gradually re-open the state in five phases. Under the Restore Illinois plan, each of the state’s four regions would return to non-essential business and other normal operations based on meeting certain thresholds over time. “Restore Illinois is a public health plan to safely…
As states move toward reopening their economies, officials are emphasizing the need to expand their capacity to test for COVID-19. But many say their…