The Illinois Department of Public Health is launching a new COVID-19 Rapid Response Team.
Public Health spokesperson Mike Claffey says the support, treatment, and access or “stat-team” will be sent out in response to a sudden rise in cases at a long-term care facility.
Claffey says, “There’s a hotline that they’ll be able to call, and we will be able to consult with them over the phone, and if they need additional personnel to help them in terms of conducting testing and so on, we will get out in the field as quickly as possible. The goal is within 48 hours.”
Marion County congregate care facilities continue to battle COVID-19 while cases, in general, have fallen. As of last Thursday, five facilities were on outbreak status with two facilities having more than 50 cases and another 30. The CDC tracker reported only 26 new cases in Marion County for the week ending Thursday and the county remains in the low category for community transmission.
14 Illinois counties are considered at medium risk of virus transmission including Fayette and Clay, and one, Richland, is at high risk.
State Public Health officials are still advising to get the latest COVID-19 booster shot to best protect yourself.
