Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Tri-County health officials on Wednesday reported 99 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, but no new deaths linked to the pandemic for a second straight day.
Meanwhile, more than 60,000 area residents are now considered fully vaccinated, including about 1,600 in the past day.
The new infections bring the region’s total since the start of the pandemic to 35,251, while the death toll remains at 590 with only one fatality in the past week.
Seven of the 25 coronavirus patients currently in Peoria-area hospitals are being treated in intensive care units, and about 700 infected individuals are isolating at home.
Courtesy Hopedale Medical Complex
Hopedale Medical Complex is among nine rural critical access hospitals statewide receiving direct COVID-19 vaccine allocations under a new safety net program.
The Tazewell County-based health care system is now receiving a weekly vaccine allocation directly from the federal government under the Safety Net Direct Vaccine Allocation Pilot Program that seeks to boost vaccine access in rural, underserved areas.
Emily Whitson is chief operating officer of Hopedale Medical Complex (HMC). Particularly here, we have some very aged patients, Whitson said. And patients that aren t going to have internet access, and/or they just don t use it. So that makes it even more difficult to make sure that population, which is the most vulnerable, are getting their vaccine.
A proposed raise for city employees was doubled at Monday night s meeting.
An amended resolution establishing 2% cost of living adjustments (COLA) for non-union city employees for Pekin s Fiscal Year 2022 budget passed by a 6-1 vote, with council member Rick Hilst voting against the measure. The initial resolution called for 1.09% COLA for the FY-22 budget. Council member Lloyd Orrick moved to make the amendment, with Mike Garrison seconding.
“I really believe if we were talking about (2.5%) or 3% (COLA), I would vote to lower that,” said Orrick. “With that in mind, I would amend the proposal to make it 2%.”
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the city’s wellness committee to cancel last year’s health fair for full and part-time city employees. But the Pekin City Council’s unanimous approval of an agreement with Empower Health Services, LLC means city employees will have access to biometric screenings.
The Tri-County area and the state of Illinois continue to surpass milestones with COVID-19 vaccinations, while daily reports of new infections and deaths