COVID-19 News Update
SEPTEMBER 3, 2021
Governor Pritzker Issues An Executive Order Requiring Residents to Wear Face Coverings Indoors Regardless of Vaccination Status
Beginning on Monday, August 30, 2021, all individuals in Illinois who are age two or over and able to medically tolerate a face covering (a mask or cloth face covering) will be required to cover their nose and mouth with a face covering when in an indoor public place. Illinoisans should also consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities that involve close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 3rd Dose FOR IMMUNE-COMPROMISED APPROVED
- 3rd dose vaccines are only approved for immune-compromised individuals
- 3rd dose is to be administered a minimum of 28 days after 2nd shot
See the Governor’s Statement for further information on immune-compromised HERE.
The third dose for the immunocompromised is not called a “booster shot.” It is called an “additional shot,” because booster shots are meant for people with healthy immune systems.
THIRD DOSES ARE NOT BOOSTERS.
BOOSTERS HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED.
CDC does not recommend additional doses or booster shots for any other population at this time.
Read The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) statement on the plan for COVID-19 booster shots for the American people HERE.
Will County Health Department is making plans to be announced soon on protocols for COVID-19 booster shots for the general public.
- Boosters (NOT APPROVED for general public) – administered 8 months after a completed 2-dose series
The importance of pregnant women being vaccinated.
COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people aged 12 years and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. Pregnant and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from severe illness from COVID-19.
Based on new evidence about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines, CDC is strengthening its recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy.
- In a new analysis of current data from the v-safe pregnancy registry, scientists did not find an increased risk for miscarriage among people who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine before 20 weeks of pregnancy.
- Additionally, previous findings from three safety monitoring systems did not find any safety concerns for pregnant people who were vaccinated late in pregnancy or for their babies.
- Growing evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy demonstrates that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks.
- COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people 12 years and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future.
- The increased circulation of the highly contagious Delta variant, the low vaccine uptake among pregnant people, and the increased risk of severe illness and pregnancy complications related to COVID-19 infection among pregnant people make vaccination for this population more urgent than ever.
COVID-19 Delta Variant Cases Continue to Rise.
Why Wait?
Schedule your vaccine today to Stop the Spread of the Delta Variant!
Steps Already Taken to Combat Delta in Illinois:
Vaccinations required for all state employees at congregate facilities, in addition to mandates by private employers
Masks required in all public indoor spaces
County Level COVID-19 Risk Metrics
Hospital Resource and COVID Patient Data
County Level COVID-19 Community Transmission Data
Cases: 7 Day Total
1266
Cases: Total Per 100K
183.28
Positivity Rate
5.88%
Governor Pritzker Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for Healthcare Workers, Pre-K-12 Teachers and Staff, Higher Education Personnel and Students to Slow Spread of Delta Variant
Thursday, August 26, 2021
All Illinois Residents Required to Wear Masks Indoors, Regardless of Vaccination Status
Downstate Communities with Lower Vaccination Rates Experiencing Sharp Increase in COVID-19 Hospitalizations
CHICAGO – As COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates across the state continue to increase, particularly in downstate communities with the lowest vaccination rates, Governor JB Pritzker and IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike today announced vaccination requirements for individuals in high risk settings. All healthcare workers, including nursing home employees, all pre-k-12 teachers and staff, as well as higher education personnel and students will now be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Employees in all of these settings and higher education students who are unable or unwilling to receive the vaccine will be required to get tested for COVID-19 at least once per week, and DPH and ISBE may require increased testing in certain situations.
Pop-Up Vaccine Clinics
THIS WEEKEND!
HellsGate Haunted House Open House
3101 Canal Street, Lockport
September 4th from 3pm to 7pm
Village of Diamond Clinic
1750 East Division Street, Diamond
September 9th from 11am to 1pm
Monee Fall Fest
Fireman’s Park, 5218,W Court Street, Monee
September 10th from 5pm to 8pm
Community Resource Fair
90 Towncenter Drive, University Park
September 11th from 10am to 2pm
Cruise Night – Manhattan
230 Wabash Street, Manhattan
September 13th from 6pm to 8pm
Founder’s Day Entertainment Weekend
1050 W Romeo Road, Romeoville
September 18th from 1pm to 5pm
Frankfort Country Market
Breidert Green, Frankfort, IL
Corner of White St. and Kansas St.
September 19th from 9am to 1pm
Beecher Farmers Market
625 Dixie Hwy, Beecher
September 25th from 9am to 1pm
Oktoberfest
200 Second Street, Manhattan
October 9th from 9am to 11am
Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Event Request
Do you want to host a Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Event?
Click a link below to schedule your first dose vaccine online.
(2nd dose appointments will be made at the time of the first appointment.)
Second dose appointments at the Joliet or Bolingbrook office will receive a gift card, while supplies last.
If you need a second dose appointment,
call 815-774-7386 to schedule your second dose.
We are now offering scheduling to the Will County Health Department Vaccine Clinics through our COVID-19 appointment scheduling phone line.
Call to Schedule your Vaccine with the Will County Health Department
815-774-7386
VACCINES FOR HOMEBOUND
Do you know someone who is interested in receiving a COVID vaccine who is unable to get out of the house due to medical limitations?
Consider applying for our homebound vaccination program through the Will County Health Department! Click the link to apply, and we will follow up with you as soon as we can! We want to get everyone vaccinated, especially those who are most at-risk and homebound.
2 DOSE VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST COVID-19
GET BOTH DOSES
call 815-774-7386 to schedule your second dose.
Second dose appointments at the Joliet or Bolingbrook office will receive a gift card, while supplies last.
Our Progress
Over 53% of the population in Will County Are Fully Vaccinated!
Total number of vaccines administered
760,721
9/3/21
Total complete doses
368,865
9/3/21
53.28%
of population fully vaccinated
Demographic Breakdown
RACE/ETHNICITY
%
WHITE
456,677
%
HISPANIC
109,495
%
BLACK
70,249
%
ASIAN
55,892
Age
Ages 12-17
- 69,859 9.18%
Ages 18-64
- 533,764 70.2%
Ages 65+
- 157,080 20.6%
Gender
Female
- 405,154 53.3%
Male
- 353,224 46.4%
Do you have outreach or grassroots experience? We are hiring!
The Will County Health Department is hiring Health Navigators to assist with COVID-19 vaccine outreach and education throughout the County. Interested candidates can find more information and apply on our website.
Tell Us What You Think
TAKE OUR SURVEY
We need your help! Will County Health Department needs your input on the COVID-19 vaccination to help us better understand where our communities stand on the vaccine. We are working to better center our education and outreach efforts to address concerns and questions about the vaccine and ensure that everyone has equitable access to the vaccine.
We are asking you to take just 5-10 minutes to express your views on the vaccine through this completely anonymous survey. You can complete this survey regardless of whether you have taken the vaccine or not; we need input from everyone. Your responses will not be personally connected to you in any way. We encourage you to express your thoughts so we can better serve our communities.
Thank you so much!
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR DAILY VACCINE CLINIC UPDATES
An easy way to stay updated on vaccine clinic hours and availability of appointments is to follow the Will County Health Department on Facebook. We post each morning the locations that are open that day for appointments and walk-ins.
Click here to visit our page and then follow/like us!
For additional questions about COVID-19, call our hotline:
815.774.7386
The Will County Health Department is providing a Coronavirus hotline to help answer your questions about COVID-19.
Call Center Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday from 8:00am-4:30pm
Please call with any questions you may have and we will be happy to help you.