CHESTER — The Randolph County Health Department reports 14 new COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday.
There are now 37 active cases with four persons hospitalized.
The death toll remains at 101 in Randolph County.
There have been 5,806 cases since the pandemic began in March 2020. There have been 5,668 recoveries.
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.”
The Illinois Department of Public Health reports 65.6 percent of the Illinois population aged five and over has been vaccinated. It reports 45.83 percent of the Randolph County population is fully vaccinated.
The IDPH has released the latest “breakthrough” numbers: 0.05 percent of those vaccinated have been hospitalized and 0.015 percent have passed away.
Breakthrough is defined as an individual who tests positive for COVID-19 at least 14 days after being fully vaccinated and did not test positive in the previous 45 days.
Randolph County report mentions the latest COVID-19 variant, which has been named “Omicron.”
“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.”
The CDC has announced one case of the Omicron variant has been reported in California. The patient recently traveled to South Africa. He is now said to be recovering.
More information about Omicron can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases
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: Friday, December 3.
Adult Pfizer doses will be available Thursday, December 9 and Wednesday, December 22.
Pediatric Pfizer doses will be available to those aged 5-11 Wednesday, December 8, December 22 and December 29.
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 are also available.
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.