Patrick Stout
Voice Correspondent
MACOMB The Illinois Department of Public Health reported Sunday that 4,313 doses of coronavirus vaccine have been administered in McDonough County. Of this total, 1,045 residents have received two shots and are fully vaccinated. This reflects 3.49 percent of the county s 29.955 population.
Macomb Mayor Mike Inman discussed local vaccinations in his weekly report of COVID-related activities on Friday. This report has been posted to the Macomb YouTube page. Vaccine is getting out, slow but sure, Inman stated. For those 65 and older who have not yet gotten vaccination appointments, the mayor advised them to continue to check the IDPH getyourcovidshot.com website.
Voice Correspondent
MACOMB Mayor Mike Inman discussed Friday a three-legged stool of community strategies for coping with the coronavirus pandemic. He said they are mitigation, testing, and vaccination.
Inman spoke from Macomb City Hall and his comments have been posted to the Macomb You-Tube channel.
The mayor said McDonough County has a less than three percent COVID-19 positivity rate and that the regional rate is around five percent. He said three days at 6.5 percent or less is the Restore Illinois Phase 4 standard.
Inman announced Illinois Department of Public Health COVID-19 testing dates in Macomb. All will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tanner Hall Circle on the campus of Western Illinois University. Testing will be done on February 4, 8, 15, and 17.
Mayor predicts weeks of senior vaccinations
Patrick Stout
MACOMB Mayor Mike Inman discussed coronavirus vaccinations for those 65 and older on Friday.
He spoke from Macomb City Hall and his comments were posted on the Macomb YouYube channel. Vaccination of older residents is part of Illinois Department of Health Phase 1B, which began Monday.
The mayor predicted release of a distribution plan by the McDonough County Health Department. I m convinced of that, Inman said. I m confident they have a plan ready to roll out..The whole process will be laid out, especially for those in the 65 and older category.
Inman urged patience. He said there are more than 5,000 people in McDonough County who are 65 or older. It will take weeks to complete these vaccinations, he said.
Voice Correspondent
MACOMB The management board of the Macomb/Bushnell Enterprise Zone was told Thursday that nearly $1.4 million was spent in 2020 for new bins at Western Grain Marketing and that $57,163 was spent on electrical improvements at NTN Bower.
Of the Western Grain Marketing improvements, McDonough County Board Chairman Scott Schwerer said, Agriculture is still a major economic driver in the county.
The county hosts one wind farm and another one is in development. Zone Administrator Kim Pierce said neither is actually in the enterprise zone, but they are considered high impact businesses by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Inman talks about Tier 1 possibility
Patrick Stout
Voice Correspondent
MACOMB With last Friday s placement of McDonough County in Restore Illinois Tier 2 status, Mayor Mike Inman said the county is very close to a Tier 1 declaration and resumption of limited indoor dining. The mayor spoke from Macomb City Hall and his comments were posted to the city s YouTube channel.
Inman said the county meets all but one of the Tier 1 requirements. He said a coronavirus positivity rate of under eight percent for three days is required. The positivity rate was 7.9 percent on Friday. Mitigation efforts are paying off, the mayor said. He also mentioned that hybrid learning classes in Macomb schools would begin January 19, as would classes at Western Illinois University.