Whiteside County schedules series of popup vaccine clinics

ROCK FALLS — A day after Whiteside County reported 16 new cases of the coronavirus, its Health Department announced a schedule of pop-up vaccination clinics in a release on Thursday.

The first one is billed as a back-to-school immunization opportunity. It will be 5 to 7 p.m. at Drives Park in Fulton. The next will be 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9, at All Seasons Motel in Rock Falls. There will be one 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12 at French Creek Park in Morrison. The last on the list is 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13 at RB&W Park in Rock Falls.

The department also sent a second release saying that the rate of transmission in Whiteside was now considered substantial, meaning the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all individuals mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status.

“Stop the spread by getting vaccinated, masking, social distancing, handwashing, and testing/staying home when sick,” said the release issued by Cory Law of the Whiteside Health Department.

In addition, the Rockford Region of Local Health Departments of Northern Illinois, which covers Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Davies, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties issued a call to action. “Don’t wait to vaccinate and wear your masks when in public indoor places,” the message said.

According to the regional LHD group, the majority of counties in EMS Region 1 are at a substantial level of COVID-19 transmission. The latest CDC map shows that Lee has a moderate level of transmission, Ogle and Whiteside are substantial and Carroll is an area of high transmission.