In this issue:
Monthly Coffee & Conversation: This Saturday, January 30
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Expansion
Will County Moves to Tier 1 Mitigations
COVID-19 Prevention Ambassador Program
Dear Friends,
There’s a lot happening in our district and our state, not the least of which is the expansion of COVID-19 vaccine distribution--a crucial step for our community’s health and safety. In this issue, you’ll find more details on how to be notified of available appointments, plus other efforts and activities to continue moving us forward.
In the past week, my staff and I have been focused on our legislative work in Springfield, plus constituent services in our district. We’ll keep you updated on those developments in future newsletters. If you want a preview of that work, have any questions, or want to learn more about other things we’re doing, please join us (and invite a friend!) for our monthly 41st District Coffee & Conversation. The first takes place this Saturday morning, and you can RSVP here.
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service predicts wet and heavy snow for our area tonight. Stay inside if you can, but remember to bring an extra flashlight, food, and water with you if you must travel.
Stay safe and healthy,
Janet
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Monthly Coffee & Conversation: This Saturday, January 30, 2021
We’re hosting 41st District Coffee & Conversations on the last Saturday morning of each month. Join us to chat about community happenings, plus updates from Springfield. Our first gathering will take place this Saturday, January 30. We’ll talk about some of the bills that my colleagues and I in the 102nd General Assembly have been working on, as well as any topics you want to bring up.
For now, we’ll meet virtually by Zoom. In the future, we’re looking forward to hosting you for coffee and snacks at our office and area restaurants.
You can RSVP here for this Saturday’s Coffee & Conversation: https://www.repyangrohr.com/events
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Expansion
Today, the state of Illinois moved to phase 1B of vaccine distributions. This group includes frontline essential workers--like teachers, first responders, and grocery store workers--as well as those 65 years of age and older. These groups have higher risk of COVID-19 exposure and health complications. In Illinois, we have 1.3 million people who qualify as frontline essential workers and 1.9 million Illinois age 65 years and older.
Our DuPage and Will County health departments are largely responsible for administering these vaccines. Depending on your county of residence, sign up at the links below for updates directly from the counties on the availability of vaccine appointments. Area pharmacies, clinics, and medical offices are increasingly joining the network of vaccine providers, too, and we encourage you to check with your healthcare providers about vaccine appointments.
DuPage County Vaccine Notifications: https://dupagehealth.jotform.com/200694254415049
Will County Vaccine Notifications: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/14f1fac7773945a0a8cf99a96b3d804e?portalUrl=https://gis.willcountyillinois.com/portal
Will County Moves to Tier 1 Mitigations
When it comes to mitigation actions, Illinois is divided into 11 regions, which are based on county lines. Because our district spans DuPage and Will County, we’re part of Region 8 (DuPage County) as well as Region 7 (Will County).
Will County’s COVID-19 metrics have seen improvements, so it and the rest of Region 7 moved to Tier 1 this past weekend. For our residents and businesses, one of the main changes we’ll see is the opening of indoor dining, which will be limited to the lesser of 25 guests or 25% of capacity in a given room. Still, the Illinois Department of Public Health recommends that this dining occurs only with members of the same household, and indoor service is limited to a maximum of four people per party.
While we’ve seen improvements in DuPage’s metrics, it remains in Tier 2 mitigations, which does not include indoor dining. You can track these numbers and see more details of the mitigation plans here: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics
COVID-19 Prevention Ambassador Program
The Illinois Department of Public Health launched the new Illinois COVID-19 Prevention Ambassador Program to encourage residents to use their voice, skills, and influence to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Ambassadors will share information among their friends, family, peers, and neighbors on prevention measures, testing resources, and other relevant information. Any Illinoisan can volunteer to join the program.
Ambassadors will have the opportunity to enhance their communication and leadership skills, contribute to effective and innovative solutions to stop the spread of COVID-19, and support a culture of health and prevention among friends, family, and peers. The estimated monthly time commitment is 1-2 hours. The program includes virtual training and orientation, as well as participation in regular meetings for peer-to-peer problem solving, technical assistance, and sharing of new guidance and resources.
Sign up here if you’re interested: Illinois COVID-19 Prevention Ambassador Interest Form Survey