Kendall County Health Department reports 294 new cases of COVID-19

New case numbers down 155 from prior week’s report; death toll from virus increases to 105

A sign on the door of Waubonsee Community College's Dickson Center advises everyone to put on a mask before entering the building among a resurgence of the COVID-19 virus.

The Kendall County Health Department reported 294 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 among county residents in the agency’s weekly report issued Sept. 16.

The 294 new cases are 155 fewer than the 449 new cases reported by the health department in its weekly report issued Sept. 9. The health department reported just 15 new cases of the virus in its weekly report issued June 24, but since that time the number of new cases has increased sharply on an almost weekly basis.

In addition, the health department reported two more deaths due to COVID-19 among county residents as of Sept. 16. The additional deaths brings the total number of county residents who have died from the virus since the onset of the pandemic in March of 2020 to 105.

But while the number of new COVID-19 cases decreased over the past week, the health department reported the test positivity rate for the virus among county residents increased from 6.7% as of Sept. 9 to 7.1% as of Sept. 16.

In a related matter, the Illinois Department of Public Health, reported that 55.96% of the county’s residents are now fully vaccinated for COVID-19. DuPage County has the highest vaccination rate in northeastern Illinois at 63.82%, according to the IDPH. DeKalb, LaSalle and Grundy counties were all reporting vaccination rates of less than 50% as of last Thursday, while Kane County had a vaccination rate of 54.76%, the IDPH data shows.

The least vaccinated area of Kendall County continues to be the portion that lies in the 60541 Newark ZIP code. According to IDPH data, just 1,212 residents of the 60541 ZIP code, 33.11%, were fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as of Sept. 16.

Meanwhile, the Millbrook 60536 ZIP code area continues to have the county’s highest vaccination rate with 105 residents or 90.52% of the population fully vaccinated as of last Thursday.

Meanwhile, 22,990 residents of the Oswego 60543 ZIP code or 57.44% of the population were fully vaccinated as of last Thursday.

Vaccination population totals and percentages for other ZIP code areas of the county, according to IDPH data as of Sept. 16, is as follows:

*Aurora 60503: 10,294, 60.56%

*Montgomery 60538: 15,073, 52.98%

*Yorkville 60560: 13,797, 55.44%

*Plano 60545: 6,470, 48.8%

*Sandwich 5,765, 46.95%

Free vaccinations available

The health department continues to offer free COVID-19 vaccinations at clinics Thursday evenings and Friday mornings at 811 W. John Street, Yorkville. Both appointments and walk-ins are welcome. Visit kendallhealth.org/community-health/covid-19-vaccine/ for scheduling and information.