Gov. J.B. Pritzker Three metrics need to be met before the state's Region 4 — including Clinton County — can roll back COVID-19 mitigations.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker outlined those metrics during Monday's COVID-19 update from Springfield. Pritzker conducted the update with Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Pritzker said last week that the state's health regions could move to the less-stringent Tier 2 or Tier 1 mitigations by this Friday, if the appropriate COVID metrics are being met.
The entire state — all 11 IDPH health districts — have been subject to Tier 3 mitigations since Nov. 20, 2020. This was in response to "exponential growth inCOVID-19 infections statewide," Pritzker said.
The Tier 3 restrictions include: no indoor restaurant or bar service, with those businesses having to close at 11 p.m.; health clubs and gyms operating at 25-percent capacity, and no indoor classes allowed; closure of gaming and casinos, theaters and museums; retail stores operating at 25-percent capacity, with groceries and pharmacies at 50-percent capacity.
The Clinton County Board of Health heard more about the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations — locally and in general — during their Jan. 5 meeting, held virtually due to the pandemic.
Board vice chairwoman Paulette Evans wanted to know from health department administrator Chris Leidel about that process.
Evans said she knows the information is fluid and is changing.
She said she is fielding a lot of questions about the subject, from people wanting to know what is happening with the vaccine.
"What are you looking at? Who's next?" and what will vaccinations for the general public look like, Evans asked.
Leidel said the county health department is almost done with vaccinating people who are in Phase 1A, who are eligible.
They are health care personnel and long-term care facility residents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The next step would be to vaccinate those in Phase 1B, which Leidel said would include teachers, people age 75 and up, essential frontline workers.
After that would come people in Phase 1C, which would include people ages 65-74, people ages 16-64 with high-risk conditions, and other essential workers, according to the CDC.
A Phase 2 would include people 16 and older who do not not in Phase 1, according to the CDC.
Leidel said he does not have a specific time when the vaccines would be available to the public. The only time he has heard is April or May.
Future Blue Angel — Central senior multi-sport player Emma Wesselmann will continue her academics and soccer career at Kaskaskia College in Centralia after graduation. She is pictured with her parents Laura and Scott of St. Rose. (Photo by Jeremy Chawgo) While her name doesn’t show up in the stat sheet very often, Central senior, soccer mid-fielder Emma Wesselmann plays a pivotal roll on every team she plays on.
Wesselmann is the vocal leader and on-field coach for the Cougars who were 8-8-1 last season.
“I wasn’t ready to quit playing soccer and this was a great opportunity to keep playing the sport I love and it is close to home,” said Wesselmann. “There are people there that I know which will make the transition that much easier.”
As a mid-fielder, scoring chances come few and far between, but Wesselmann sparks and initiates both the offense and defense. She scored a goal and had three assists her sophomore campaign before failing to have a junior campaign due to COVID.
“Emma is such a hard worker, and it’s a privilege to be able to coach someone like that,” said Central head coach Keith Patterson. “And to give them a chance to play at the next level is just great. Youth soccer is a gateway to get an education and I’m proud of Emma. She’s a smart kid and a hard worker.”
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