Due to our HIGH transmission status, it is recommended that everyone, despite vaccination, should wear a mask when indoors. Transmission locally has increased to 389.40 new cases per 100,000 over the last week. New cases and hospitalizations are still primarily with those who have been unvaccinated, but we are seeing vaccinated cases and patients as well. Many of the patients who are vaccinated that have been hospitalized have underlying health conditions that still make them vulnerable. Local hospitals are also beginning to see the strain with an increase in cases and low ICU bed availability. Some of this is due to low numbers of staff as well. It doesn’t take a lot to overwhelm our healthcare system. We need to get control now and not later.
Region 6 also hit 8% positivity rate and we are at 23% ICU bed availability.
Booster Shots
At this time, we are still waiting on approval from the FDA and then guidance from CDC and IDPH before we recommend boosters. The Boosters for COVID19 are mainly for immunocompromised individuals. Once approval and guidance has been given, we will inform the public on next steps.
School Updates
Schools across the county are beginning to head back to classes or will be in the next week or two. This is the latest statement from ISBE. I know it’s frustrating to have to continue with the masking. We have already seen some cases in the schools, but good news is that we have not seen classroom spreading yet due to masking. Cases appear to be community spread. The last thing I want in our county is to begin to see child hospitalizations like some other states have. We have children with underlying health conditions, we have a high child obesity rate, and we continue to have a virus that changes.
https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Enforcement-Universal-Indoor-Masking-Requirement.pdf
Testing Updates
- Shield Saliva COVID19 Testing will be at the Health Department EVERY Wednesday
- Time: 11am-3pm (Appointments are recommended, but not required – you can make an appointment by clicking on the link and registering: You do need a text number and an email address to receive your results. https://shieldilportal.pointnclick.com/login_login.aspx
- To register, you will need the Agency Code: df5brbrj
- Testing is FREE and is a PCR test
- They are no longer requesting that you cannot eat or drink prior to getting tested.
Vaccine Updates
Check our website for upcoming J and J and Moderna Clinics: www.vchd.org
Upcoming Clinics outside VCHD
Through EMA, Danville Mass Transit will have a Pfizer Vaccine Clinic on August 23rd from 10am-2pm at their location on 101 N. Hazel St. in Danville.
For questions, please contact Lisa Beith at 217-431-3461
This is a great opportunity!!
We are not currently able to do any agency onsite clinics due to limited staff availability. If you would like to set up an on-site clinic at your location, IEMA can bring in a mobile team. They have come to multiple agencies already here in Vermilion County. Here is the contact information or you can fill out a Vaccine Clinic Application: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccinationclinics
There are also plenty of locations that are offering vaccines currently including our local hospitals (OSF, Carle, and the VA), pharmacies, Aunt Martha’s, and some private providers.
Regional Metrics (as of August 12th, 2021)
For updates to vaccine numbers and regional metrics, please visit http://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccinedata?county=Vermilion or http://www.dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics?regionID=6. The state updates these numbers at noon on Mondays-Fridays.
Region 6 – 8.0% positivity rate (7 day rolling average)
Vermilion County – 11.2% positivity rate (7 day rolling average)
Vermilion County – 11.7% daily positivity rate on 8/7/2021
Region 6 ICU availability – 23%
Region 6 Patient increases – 10 out of the last 10 days
