Photo provided by Illinois Department for Public Health NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois Department for Public Health (IDPH) issued an announcement that there were six counties in Illinois are at an elevated medium community level risk for COVID as of last Friday. The IDPH has reported over four million total cases and nearly 37,000 deaths in 102 counties in Illinois since the beginning of the pandemic in March of 2020. […]
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Although COVID-19 numbers are decreasing in Illinois, state officials are closely monitoring the new Covid-19 Omicron sub-variant. Scientists recently discovered a new Omicron subvariant. Its first official case in Illinois was confirmed in January. The subvariant is up to 50% more transmissible than the original Omicron strain. Governor J.B. Pritzker said that state officials are closely monitoring the new sub-variant and preparing for another possible wave in […]
Photo Courtesy of OSF Facebook Page NORMAL, Ill. - One of the main concerns for parents is the safety of their children. Parents actively protect their children from bullying, violence, crime, and strangers, but disease and infection is something that’s harder to protect your children from. OSF healthcare recently published a study that shows a link between croup cough and COVID-19, with the large spike over the last months from […]
Photo courtesy McLean County Facebook Page NORMAL, Ill. - The United States is currently navigating a third wave of COVID-19 infections; in some areas of the country, the rates of positive cases are higher than they have ever been. The highly contagious omicron variant is spreading rapidly throughout the population. Notably, even people who are vaccinated against COVID are getting the virus. So, why does this happen? Douglas Kasper, M.D. […]
Photo Courtesy from McLean County Twitter NORMAL, Ill.--McLean County Health Department is offering mass vaccination clinics for COVID-19 booster shots to those who received Pfizer in as their original doses. The clinics are offered every Thursday -- with a few exceptions for holidays such as Thanksgiving – at Grossinger Motors Arena from 10 a.m. -3 p.m. The health department strongly recommends these additional doses to those 65 years and older, anyone […]
Photo courtesy of Ben Haushalter DOWNS, Ill. - As ISU looks to make a return to normalcy this fall and saw a slight glimpse this past Friday and the first Redbird Day since the pandemic. However, it's hard not to think about what was lost over the past 13 months for students. While many college students have vocalized their struggles, high schoolers have faced many of the same challenges, according […]
Photo Courtesy of McLean County Health Department Facebook Page. NORMAL, Ill. - As vaccine eligibility expands, many are struggling to get appointments while the Non-English-speaking population is facing double the challenges. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, 87.2% of administered vaccine doses have gone to White residents in McLean County. IDPH also reports only 3.91% Black or African-American, 2.59% Asian, and 2.29% Hispanic or Latino residents have received doses. McLean County Health Department Public Affairs Coordinator, Marianne Manko explains some of the resources […]
Photo Courtesy McLean County Health Department Facebook Page. NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois Department of Public Health is expanding vaccine eligibility and officials stress the risk of resurgence. McLean County has roughly 11% of residents fully vaccinated and has administered over 55,000 vaccines. The Public Affairs Coordinator of the McLean County Health Department, Marianne Manko explains how the Illinois National Guard assists the department. “The mass vaccination clinic that we […]
Photo courtesy to OSF Healthcare NORMAL, Ill.- The COVID-19 vaccine has finally arrived, although only healthcare workers have access at this time. Healthcare workers have started to receive their first doses of the vaccine, however some in the public are skeptical of the vaccine and possible long term effects. Libby Allison is the Media Relations Coordinator for OSF Healthcare. OSF oversee 17 hospitals, including the ones in and around McLean […]
