COVID-19 Information
Health Department Announces 4 COVID- Related Deaths, 34 New Positive Cases and Extended Hours for Free Covid Testing
(2-25-22) Effingham, IL – The Effingham County Health Department (ECHD) is saddened to announce four COVID-related deaths, three individuals were in their 80s and one was in their 90s. Two individuals were not vaccinated at all and the other two individuals were not up to date with the vaccinations.
ECHD also announces 34 new cases of COVID have been reported from Friday, February 18 through Thursday. February 24. Breaking down the cases over those 7 days; only 14.7% of cases were up to date with their vaccinations, 64.7% were completely unvaccinated, while 20.6% were not up to date
with their vaccinations. Reinfections accounted for 17.5% of all cases, of these 66.5% were not vaccinated, 33.4% were not up to date with their vaccinations, none of the reinfections were up to date with their vaccinations.
The Illinois Region 6, 7-day rolling test positivity was down to 3.4% through February 22, with Effingham County at 3.9% for the same period. ICU availability in our region is up to 31%.
The hours have been extended at the Drive-through COVID Testing Center. The testing center is located at 1904 South Banker St. next to Wabash Tire in front of the Village Square Mall. Free Rapid and PCR tests are now available Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and again from 2 to 3 p.m.
• No insurance is required for these free tests.
• This service is available to anyone seeking testing, aged 5+.
• No appointment or physician order required.
• Rapid results the same day.
• PCR results normally take 2 to 3 days.
For details about vaccination of immune-compromised people, see the section on special populations or CDC’s interim clinical considerations for the use of COVID-19 vaccines: CDC Clinical Considerations
Until our County is fully vaccinated, remember to wear a mask, wash up, and spread out.
For more information on COVID, visit www.dph.illinois.gov/COVID-19
What is the difference between a booster shot and an additional dose?
A booster shot is administered when a person has completed their vaccine series and protection against the virus has decreased over time. Additional doses are administered to people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems. This additional dose of an mRNA-COVID-19 vaccine is intended to improve immunocompromised people’s response to their initial vaccine series.
For details about vaccination of immunocompromised people, see the section on special populations or CDC’s interim clinical considerations for the use of COVID-19 vaccines: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid-19-vaccines-us.html#considerations-additional-vaccine-dose.
Until our County is fully vaccinated, remember to wear a mask, wash up and spread out.
For more information on COVID, visit www.dph.illinois.gov/COVID-19
FAQ about COVID Vaccination
Vaccination Plan
Isolation & Quarantine Info
Contact Tracing
State of IL Resources
Prevention Tips
FAQ about COVID Vaccination
Vaccination Plan
Isolation & Quarantine Info
Contact Tracing
State of IL Resources
Prevention Tips
IDPH Hotline number for Illinois residents – 1-800-889-3931
Public Health Guidebooks
The following two links contain guides to better help job seekers, professionals, and students understand the changing landscapes of higher education and labor trends in the Public Policy and Healthcare sectors, and their impact on careers and employment in the industry.
Key updates to these websites include:
- A comprehensive look at the growth of online public health degree programs at not-for-profit universities.
- Tips for pursuing a graduate degree in public health (MPH, DPH, etc) while working
- A list of top MPH and graduate programs in public health services for ROI
- Advice for international students interested in continuing their public health education at a US college.