(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Central Illinois is officially moving out of additional mitigations as the region s COVID-19 statistics continue to improve.
On Monday, Region 2, which includes Peoria, Bloomington, Galesburg, Macomb, and the Quad Cities, was moved out of Tier 1 mitigations and into Phase 4 by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Region 1, which includes Rockford and other northern Illinois communities, also was shifted into Phase 4.
Among other things, Phase 4 increases the capacity limits for indoor bar and restaurant service, as well as museums and social events. Some indoor recreation facilities, like bowling alleys and skating rinks, also can immediately reopen under Phase 4 guidelines.
Seth Wenig / AP
UPDATED 5:40 P.M. | Central Illinois is officially moving out of additional mitigations as the region s COVID-19 statistics continue to improve.
Region 2, which includes Bloomington, Normal, Peoria, Galesburg, Macomb, and the Quad Cities, was moved out of Tier 1 mitigations and into Phase 4 by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on Monday. Region 1, which includes Rockford and other northern Illinois communities, also was shifted into Phase 4.
Among other things, Phase 4 increases the capacity limits for indoor bar and restaurant service, as well as museums and social events.
McLean County Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight said the move to Phase 4 is an encouraging sign, but added it’s too soon to become complacent about COVID-19.
Journal Star
Tazewell County has a higher COVID-19 death rate per capita than Peoria County and the state of Illinois.
Why? Health experts and public officials have no definitive answer. But they offer ideas that point to possible factors.
As of Friday, Tazewell County had 1.61 deaths related to COVID-19 per 1,000 residents. That figure is 1.29 for Peoria County, which is lower than the state s overall 1.47. Woodford County sits at 1.53 per 1,000 residents.
What might cause Tazewell County s higher rate? Sarah Sparkman, spokesperson for the Tazewell County Health Department, said, I do not have the answer to that question.
Nor does Monica Hendrickson, administrator for the Peoria City/County Health Department.
PEORIA COVID-19 vaccinations began this week for folks in the 1B category, and a large number of area seniors has been lucky enough to get the call.
Last week, when area health officials announced a don’t-call-us-we’ll-call-you policy for vaccinations, it was disconcerting news for many residents. After all, how would health officials know who to get hold of and how to reach them?
But as the system was put into action this week, a number of people were happy to see that it is working.
“It was like a phone call out of the blue,” said 75-year-old Peoria resident Pat Goitein on Wednesday. “They called on Monday, and within 24 hours I was vaccinated.”