May 17, 2024
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La Salle County reaches low risk for COVID-19

County 2 weeks removed from being at high risk of coronavirus

By Derek Barichello
Dr. Igor Koralnik, chief of neuro-infectious diseases at Northwestern Medicine, examines a long-haul COVID-19 patient at a recent clinic visit.

Dr. Igor Koralnik, chief of neuro-infectious diseases at Northwestern Medicine, examines a long-haul COVID-19 patient at a recent clinic visit. (Northwestern Medicine )

La Salle County’s COVID risk has improved to low, just two weeks removed from its status being listed as high, according to guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

La Salle County’s risk level is based on these indicators set by the CDC, updated Thursday. In the past seven days, the county had a case rate total of 188.65 per 100,000 (down 31 from a week ago), nine new hospital admissions (8.2 per 100,000) of confirmed COVID-19 (down two admissions from a week ago) and 2.2% of staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19 (down 0.9% from a week ago).

There were 192 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in La Salle County since Aug. 19. Making up the new cases are seven boys younger than 13, 12 girls younger than 13, eight teenage boys, nine teenage girls, nine men in their 20s, 18 women in their 20s, 13 men in their 30s, 11 women in their 30s, 20 men in their 40s, 18 women in their 40s, six men in their 50s, 16 women in their 50s, 11 men in their 60s, nine women in their 60s, six men in their 70s, eight women in their 70s, four men in their 80s, a woman in their 80s, two men in their 90s and four women in their 90s.

There have been 274 people previously confirmed with COVID-19 removed from quarantine since Aug. 19.

Regardless of community level, the La Salle County Health Department recommendations for isolation for those testing positive and those exposed, isolation and quarantine also remain the same, including masking from days six to 10 when isolation/quarantine end.

The La Salle County Health Department schedules all COVID-19 tests online. Access the link at https://hipaa.jotform.com/220026540796151.

Individuals who need to start the COVID-19 vaccination series or need a booster can call the La Salle County Health Department at 815-433-3366 to schedule an appointment. The health department has Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer vaccines available.

About 58.57% of the county’s population was fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as of July 1, 62.07% of the county’s population has had at least one dose of the vaccine and 36,546 boosters have been administered, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

To search for vaccine locations available near you, visit www.vaccines.gov.