CHESTER – The total number of COVID-19 cases in Randolph County rose by 12 Monday. There are now 36 active cases in Randolph County, four of the individuals with COVID are hospitalized. There has been one additional death.
There have been 5,792 cases since the pandemic began in March 2020. There have been 5,655 recoveries and 101 deaths.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reports Randolph County has a red or high level of community transmission and advises “Everyone in Randolph County, Illinois should wear a mask in public, indoor settings.”
For the first time, the health department’s report mentions the latest COVID-19 variant, which has been named “Omicron.”
Quoting from a World Health Organization release:
“On November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified a new variant, B.1.1.529, as a Variant of Concern and has named it Omicron.
“No cases of this variant have been identified in the U.S. to date. CDC is following the details of this new variant, first reported to the WHO by South Africa.
“We are grateful to the South African government and its scientists who have openly
communicated with the global scientific community and continue to share information about this variant with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and CDC. We are working with other U.S. and global public health and industry partners to learn more about this variant, as we continue to monitor its path.
“CDC is continuously monitoring variants and the U.S. variant surveillance system has reliably detected new variants in this country. We expect Omicron to be identified quickly, if it emerges in the U.S.
The CDC reports 47.7 percent of Randolph County residents are fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
That compares with the nearly 61 percent of Illinois’ total populate.
The Randolph County Health Department has released a schedule of upcoming COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
Please call the health Department at (618) 826-5007 to schedule an appointment.
The department is administering the first, second, third and booster doses of the COVID vaccine
The next Moderna booster vaccination clinic will be on the following dates: Wednesday, December 1, and Friday, December 3.
Adult Pfizer doses will be available today, Tuesday, November 30, and Thursday, December 9.
Pediatric Pfizer doses will be available to those aged 5-11 today, Tuesday, November 30 and Wednesday, December 8.
The Pfizer vaccine has been approved for children aged 5-11 by the CDC and the Illinois Department of Public Health has adopted the recommendations.
Parents should call the health department at 618 826 5007 and register them for the Pfizer clinic.
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when they go to the clinic.
Seasonal flu shots will be available today.
Call 618-826-5007 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and Kroger in the area are administering the vaccine in an effort to increase the number of opportunities for individuals to receive the vaccine.