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Illinois won't be restriction-free until there is an effective treatment or vaccine for COVID-19 under Governor J.B. Pritzker's reopening plan

(Springfield-jm) --  Illinois won't be restriction-free until there is an effective treatment or vaccine for COVID-19 under Governor J.B. Pritzker's reopening plan, but it's not yet clear on how long that could take. There were distinct timelines laid out in the governor’s reopening plan to move from Phase 2 to Phase 3 and then to Phase 4. But to get to Phase 5, when all restrictions would be lifted, there needs to be an effective treatment, a vaccine or widespread immunity. Pritzker urges hospitals across the state to take part in research trials for treatments. Pritzker says he wants everyone to get a vaccine, but said he’ll consult with the White House's top expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, on the issue. 715 new cases were reported in Illinois yesterday bringing the state’s total number to 138,540. There were also 64 additional deaths bringing the total to 6,770. Locally Champaign County reported 10 new cases bringing their total to 806. Iroquois County reported 6 new cases bringing their total number to 151. Livingston County reported 2 new cases bringing their total number to 42. Kankakee County reported 9 new cases and 2 additional deaths bringing their total number of cases to 1,255 and 63 deaths.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Governor J-B Pritzker is announcing 50 million dollars in grants to kick off the state’s largest ever broadband expansion effort. Big cities shouldn’t be the only places that have high speed internet says the Governor…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. This first round of grants plus matching dollars will go towards 28 projects around the state. It’s part of the state’s “Connect Illinois” effort to bring internet access to all parts of Illinois by 2024.


 

(Springfield-jm) -- Fatal crash rates increased in Illinois in April despite a significant drop in traffic while the state remained under a stay-at-home order. Preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council show a year-over-year 36.6% increase nationally in fatality rates per miles driven in April, in spite of an 18% drop in the total number of roadway deaths compared to April 2019. Illinois’ fatality rate rose 6 percent. The actual number of miles driven dropped 40% compared to the same time period last year. For the three-day Independence Day holiday period starting July 2, the National Safety Council estimates 405 potential fatalities, with alcohol as an expected primary factor in nearly 40% of the deaths.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health says now is the time to take care of your family’s medical needs. Get your child’s back to school physical scheduled if you haven’t already done so says State Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike…

 

 

Illinois Public Health Director Dr Ngozi Ezike. Ezike says adults should resume their usual checks including physicals, mammograms, colonoscopies and recommended vaccinations as well.

 

 

(Undated-jm) -- The Dairy Business Innovation Alliance is providing Midwestern dairy farmers and dairy related businesses with financial and technical support. The group's goals are to increase farm diversification, create value added dairy products such as specialty cheeses and focus on export opportunities for dairy products. More information is available online.

 

 

(Paxton-cf)-- The Paxton Grand Old Flag Project is still accepting donations for the project. Organizer Denny Kingern has the details of how you can donate…

 

 

The Grand Old Flag Project Organizer Denny Kingern

 

 

(Champaign-cf)-- The CU at Home Men’s homeless shelter had plans to start operating year round around November 1st of this year. However, with the COVID-19 Pandemic the decision was made to go year round starting this week. CU at Home Director Rob Dalhous explains how that decision was made in partnership with Austins Place… 

 

 

CU at Home Director Rob Dalhaus(Dol-House) 

 

 

(Danville-jm) -- OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center in Danville has received the Patient Safety Excellence Award from Healthgrades. The distinction places the hospital in the top 10 percent of all short-term acute care hospitals based on 14 preventable events. In 2020, only 456 hospitals across the nation achieved this distinction.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- How has agriculture benefited from US trade deals? Stephanie Ho reports… 

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- With more than half of the state’s total COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, state public health officials said they are making progress to address the issues. Last week, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state’s policy was to have COVID-19 patients transferred from hospitals back to nursing homes after they recovered. Those people were still isolated when they returned to the long-term care facility. Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said there are 25 facilities where such patients are transferred and the state is making progress. The latest data from IDPH on COVID-19 and long-term care facilities showed there were a total of 21,390 positive cases and 3,649 deaths. As for local active and recovered cases, Champaign County is reporting 772 have recovered with 72 active and 9 hospitalized. Vermilion County is reporting 41 have been released from isolation with 5 in isolation and 1 hospitalized. Livingston County is reporting 36 have been removed from isolation and 4 are active. McLean County is reporting 228 have recovered and 12 are in isolation. Iroquois County is reporting 125 have recovered, 19 are in isolation and 2 are hospitalized. In Ford County 21 have been released from isolation and 5 are in isolation. In Kankakee County, 960 have recovered, 232 are active with 7 hospitalized.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- While some are looking for more direction from the state when it comes to getting kids back in the classroom, Governor J-B Pritzker says they want schools to be able to design their own unique plans. The Governor says what might work for one district may not work for another, and that’s why the state issued broad recommendations…

 

 

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker. Governor Pritzker acknowledges it won’t be easy to keep students wearing masks all day.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- Illinois’ health care system is “critically low” on blood and an official said it could affect the availability of non-emergency procedures if it gets worse. As of Wednesday, no Illinois hospitals had publicly announced any restrictions on non-emergency procedures. Some blood centers in the state  had less than a one-day supply or maybe a two-day supply of O negative or O positive and some other blood types as well.

 

 

(Springfield-jm) -- As more people may be apt to put on their own show at home, the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office is warning about the dangers of fireworks. Many communities have cancelled their big fireworks shows, so there is some concern about backyard use says Fire Marshal Spokesperson J-C Fultz. He says only novelty items like snappers, poppers and sparklers are legal in Illinois…

 

 

Illinois State Fire Marshal Spokesperson J-C Fultz. Fultz says any other types of fireworks should only be used by those with a permit and the proper training.

 

 

(Gilman-jm) -- The city of Gilman will be adding surveillance cameras to their brush pile site. Mayor Rick Theesfield says that’s in addition to a new gate…

 

 

Gilman Mayor Rick Theesfield.

 

 

(St. Joe-cf)-- The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted a lot of communities in the nation. The Village of St. Joseph has dealt with the same issues many communities have. St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling gives an update as to how the community has responded to the pandemic, and the shut downs that occurred… 

 

 

St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) -- Rantoul’s village clerk has been elected to an international organization. Janet Gray was elected to the board of directors of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, an organization with over 15,000 members worldwide. Gray will serve a three year term. Her region covers Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. Gray has been Rantoul’s deputy clerk since 1997.

 

 

(Washington-jm) -- The latest USDA report shows gains in meat production. Rod Bain has the details…

 

 

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