Marion County Health Department Administrator Melissa Mallow told the health department board this week that they will be offering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to those under five years of age starting in the next few weeks. The vaccine was recently approved for the youngest age group.
The vaccine will be given at the regular Monday shot clinic at the Salem office and Wednesday shot clinic in Centralia once it is available.
Mallow reported there are currently 121 active positive cases in Marion County that have been confirmed through regular COVID-19 testing. The county is still at the low level for community infection.
The health department is continuing to offer COVID vaccines without appointment and free of charge at a weekly clinic each Tuesday at the health department.
Mallow says there are now four congregate care facilities that are on breakout status. She noted one of the facilities had nine congregate cases, two had four cases apiece, and one had three cases. One of the four facilities has been on breakout status for the past month, but is now reporting new cases. Mallow says the congregate care facilities continue to test employees and residents once a week to stay on top of the COVID-19 situation.
Mallow reported the Illinois Department of Public Health has closed the COVID surge center effective May 31st. Those who test positive through a regular testing program now only receive a text message directing them to a prerecorded message with information about COVID. With the closure of the surge center, Mallow says the state is no longer making an effort to contact trace those with COVID.
Mallow has announced the hiring of a new Environmental Health Director. Sean Lemmon came from the Jefferson County Health Department. Mallow reports so far they have not had any positive reports of West Nile Virus in any samples or any infections spread by ticks.
