Henry & Stark County Health Department

Date: July 21, 2021

 

 

“HENRY COUNTY ANNOUNCES COVID CASES IN CONNECTION TO LOCAL VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL”

   The Henry and Stark County Health Department announces that anyone attending or had children attending the Kewanee First Christian Church Vacation Bible School on July 12-15 may have been exposed to multiple individuals who had Covid-19. 

 

    The Health Department has not been given a participant’s or close contact list for those attending the Vacation Bible School.   Unfortunately, the information being withheld is crucial for conducting effective contact tracing; therefore, we feel it’s important to alert the public to stem further spread of Covid cases.  We encourage those who attended this event to monitor themselves or their children for Covid-19 symptoms.  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

 

     If you are experiencing symptoms, please contact your primary healthcare provider or call the Health Department at (309) 852-0197 for more information.  Public health officials are working actively to identify and investigate all individuals who were in contact with the cases. Federal privacy restrictions prohibit the release of further information regarding the investigations.

July 15, 2021

 

“Health Department & OEM Offer Update on Delta Variant”

 

    The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and the Henry County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) offer an update on the Covid-19 Delta Variant.  RaeAnn Tucker, Director of Health Promotion states, “The CDC, IDPH and public health officials across the country are watching the Covid-19 Delta Variant very closely.  It is increasing across the country and appears to be highly transmittable. It is also impacting young people in a way that previous variants have not.”

     Tucker adds, “A main factor in abetting the spread of the Delta variant and other Covid-19 variants is the fact that there are places in the state and country that have low vaccination coverage.  In these places, we are beginning to see increasing transmission among unvaccinated individuals, especially as the Delta variant spreads.”

     However, this does not have to be the case.  We have safe and effective vaccines that work against this variant.  People who are fully vaccinated are protected from the Delta variant.  That is why it is more important than ever that people get vaccinated. 

     All who are 12 years of age and older can seek vaccination.  (Pfizer 12 years+, Moderna 18 years+, and Johnson & Johnson 18 years+) Check with your local pharmacies, healthcare providers, and your local Health Department. 

     The First Choice Healthcare clinics in Kewanee and Colona have Moderna vaccine available on a “Walk In” basis:  KEWANEE (Monday-Friday, 7:30-5:30pm) and COLONA (Monday-Wednesday-Friday, 8am-4pm)

     REMINDER, if you are NOT VACCINATED you should still wear a mask, keep 6ft of distance from others, and get tested to know your COVID-19 status. Find your nearest testing location at: http://dph.illinois.gov/testing

Date: July 21, 2021

 

“HENRY & STARK COUNTY RELEASES WEEKLY DATA ON CONFIRMED POSITIVE & PROBABLE COVID-19 CASES”

   The Henry and Stark County Health Departments announce they have a cumulative total of 5109 “Confirmed Positive” and “Probable” Cases of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Henry County and 652 “Confirmed Positive” and “Probable” Cases in Stark County. The Department is now releasing its weekly “current data” on confirmed positive and probable cases:

          Henry County Cumulative Confirmed Positive and Probable Covid-19 Cases:  *5109

          Change From Previous Week: *+21

          Henry County Current Active Cases: *19

          Henry County Deaths: *70

 

          Stark County Cumulative Confirmed Positive and Probable Covid-19 Cases:  *652

          Change From Previous Week: *+2

Stark County Current Active Cases: *2

          Stark County Deaths: *24

 

          Henry & Stark County Cumulative Confirmed Positive & Probable Covid-19 Cases: *5761

 

Henry & Stark County Current Active Covid-19 Cases: *21

 

 

    *Based On Confirmed Positive and Probable Covid-19 Cases As Of 7-20-21, Cumulative & Current Totals. There can be time lags between when a case is confirmed positive/probable and when it is considered active in state and local reporting.

 

     The Health Department notes, “Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, beginning November 6, 2020 and going forward, IDPH will report confirmed cases and probable cases combined. A confirmed case is laboratory confirmed via molecular test. A probable case meets clinical criteria AND is epidemiologically linked, or has a positive antigen test. If a probable case is later confirmed, the case will be deduplicated and will only be counted once. Probable deaths and confirmed deaths will continue to be reported separately.”

     The Health Department notes as we learn more about how the virus is spread throughout our county, state, and nation our reporting mechanisms will change and be tweaked in order to give people a better understanding.  By combining the positive by test and probable cases, we now have a greater understanding and more accurate knowledge of the covid-19 virus’ reach and effect in our communities.

 

     The Health Department releases this recovery information on confirmed positive and probable cases in Henry and Stark Counties on a weekly basis. 

     The Health Department is continuing to release information to urge local residents to remain cautious and vigilant when it comes to community mitigation efforts: get your Covid-19 vaccination and limit infection risks whenever possible.  Remember, if you are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19, you must still wear a face covering when in public places; observe social distancing of at least 6 feet; cover coughs and wash hands frequently.

Date: July 23, 2021

                   

“Henry and Stark County Health Departments Announce Daily Positive Covid-19 Cumulative Cases”

 

     The Henry and Stark County Health Department today Friday, July 23rd announce a cumulative total of 5129 “Confirmed Positive” and “Probable” Cases of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Henry County and 656 “Confirmed Positive” and “Probable” Cases in Stark County. 

 

     The Health Department notes, “Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, beginning November 6, 2020 and going forward, IDPH will report confirmed cases and probable cases combined. A confirmed case is laboratory confirmed via molecular test. A probable case meets clinical criteria AND is epidemiologically linked, or has a positive antigen test. If a probable case is later confirmed, the case will be deduplicated and will only be counted once. Probable deaths and confirmed deaths will continue to be reported separately.”

     The Health Department notes as we learn more about how the virus is spread throughout our county, state, and nation our reporting mechanisms will change and be tweaked in order to give people a better understanding.  By combining the positive by test and probable cases, we now have a greater understanding and more accurate knowledge of the covid-19 virus’ reach and effect in our communities.

     Public health officials are working actively to identify and investigate all individuals who were in contact with the cases. Federal privacy restrictions prohibit the release of further information regarding the investigations.

     The Health Department notes with expected additional cases coming, residents need to assume that they have been exposed to COVID-19. For a reference of the most current status of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the State please visit the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Covid-19 webpage at

http://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR2wPx79OnrI6FPlmjF7pg8KEcK5FdHrxs4OgncAYdwbUoWPyQGHc-j2Te4