Tuesday December 15, 2020 Today’s headlines: Illinois received its first shipment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Monday. The University of Illinois still doesn’t have emergency use authorization from the FDA for its COVID-19 saliva test, but anticipates having it by January. Illinois public health officials reported 7,214 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, and an additional 103 deaths. Hospitals in Central Illinois are preparing to
When Gov. JB Pritzker observes COVID-19 vaccines administered at a Peoria hospital on Tuesday morning, he’ll be witnessing among the first COVID-19…
Friday December 11, 2020 Today’s headlines: Governor JB Pritzker’s administration is sending Illinois National Guard medical staff to assist with Coronavirus testing and screening at three of the state’s four veterans’ homes. The governor’s office last week announced the 50 counties in Illinois that would be first in line for vaccine distribution for healthcare workers, a demographic
MONTICELLO – Rural hospitals in Illinois face unique challenges as COVID-19 continues to surge across the state. Many don’t have an intensive care unit, so patients who need a higher level of care must be transferred elsewhere. Pat Schou, executive director of the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network – an association of more than 50 rural
For health questions about COVID-19, call the Illinois Department of Public Health hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov. Illinois has expanded COVID-19 testing criteria to allow anyone to get tested, regardless of symptoms. Illinois Department of Public Health IDPH’s database features testing locations in Champaign, Urbana, Savoy, Danville, Decatur, Mattoon, Hoopeston and Pontiac, including, but
Friday December 4, 2020 Today’s headlines: Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger is blaming Democratic Governor JB Pritzker for not controlling a fatal COVID outbreak at an Illinois veterans’ home. Illinois’ blood supply is again experiencing a critical shortage as the Coronavirus pandemic wears on. State health officials announced nearly 11,000 new COVID-19 cases yesterday and almost 200 additional
SPRINGFIELD — Hundreds of Illinois cities are eligible to apply for federal relief from the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration says. Local government officials have until Dec. 1 to to submit applications. Local CURE funds were approved in the congressional relief package last spring. Public health and public safety spending, COVID-19 testing and contact
URBANA – Before the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of food insecurity were lower than they had been in more than two decades, according to hunger relief nonprofit Feeding America. Now that trend is reversing, and millions more Americans are facing hunger this year due to loss of employment and reduced access to school meals. Feeding America
Champaign’s 20th annual Parade of Lights went before the public for the first time, Saturday evening. But instead of a procession on downtown streets, the parade features miniature floats on your computer screen. (Watch the parade at this link). The virtual “shoebox edition” of the parade was created due to COVID-19 precautions, which have led
URBANA – During the first three months of the pandemic, the number of U.S. adults dying increased compared to previous years, according to a recent study led by University of Illinois researchers involving data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The statistically significant increase in deaths remained even after deaths attributed to
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Dr. Ngozi Ezike are holding daily COVID-19 press briefings as cases and hospitalizations in Illinois reach record highs. Read and listen to the latest update from the governor’s office on new cases, phased re-opening and closings of different regions and the state’s ongoing pandemic response. You can watch the most recent
URBANA — Coronavirus testing sites at the University of Illinois’ Chicago and Springfield campuses will not be available to students who are enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, according to U of I spokeswoman Robin Kaler. Recent social media posts from U of I students suggest that some were under the impression that
URBANA — To get into University of Illinois buildings, students and employees are supposed to show an app saying that they’ve had a recent, clean COVID-19 test. Nearly one-third of the time, however, there’s no one at the door to check their status. This is the finding of a group of University of Illinois student
URBANA – Across Illinois’ Region 6, which includes 21 counties in east-central Illinois, hospitals have less than 30% capacity remaining in their medical-surgical and intensive care units, local health officials reported this week. Hospitals are filling up with COVID-19 patients as rates of community transmission rise throughout the region, says Champaign-Urbana Public Health Administrator Julie
CHAMPAIGN – During a typical school year, Laura Dees says families in need rely on food drives held at school buildings in the Champaign Unit 4 School District. Dees, director of food services for Unit 4, says that wasn’t a possibility this year because schools are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But Dees