Knox County, IL- The Knox County Unified Command is announcing 193 new cases of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), between Tuesday, September 14, 2021, and Monday, September 20, 2021. According to IDPH the total positive cases in Knox County is 6,608. Due to federal privacy restriction, release of any additional information is prohibited. To date there have been 164 COVID-19 related deaths.
As vaccination rates lag and we see cases increase, COVID infection rates among kids have risen. School-age kids made up approximately 44% of the new COVID-19 cases this past week in Knox County. “This absolutely concerns us,” states Michele Gabriel, Public Health Administrator. “We monitor cases in all age groups, and any increase in any age group is something we are concerned about and follow closely.” The health department reminds residents to self-monitor daily for any of the following symptoms: fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, loss of taste/smell, extreme fatigue, abdominal discomfort, headaches, and muscle aches. This list is not all inclusive. Please contact your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning. Curbside testing for COVID-19 is open to anyone, regardless of symptoms, please call the Knox Community Health Center at 309-344-2225 to schedule an appointment. Call early as the Health Center may have same day appointments open. The health The Knox County Health Department urges all residents to continue wearing cloth face-coverings and practice social distancing when in public, for the health and safety of our community. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Knox County has fully vaccinated 49.52% of our population. According to the Jurisdiction-Specific Age Demographics 30.73 of our 12–17-year old’s have been fully vaccinated. The Knox County Unified Command offers vaccine clinics throughout the community. The Health Department offers the two dose Moderna and the one dose Janssen to those 18 years of age and up and the two dose Pfizer vaccine to those 12 and up. Individuals under the age of 18 are required to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. A parental consent must be signed before the vaccine can be administered. Third dose vaccines are available to those who are immunocompromised at ALL Knox County Unified Vaccine Clinics and events. Appointments are not required, but a third dose must be given at least 28 days after the second dose. The additional vaccine dose should be the same as the initial two-dose vaccine. · Friday, September 24th at the First Christian Church, Galesburg 9:00am-11:00am Moderna, Pfizer & Janssen
· Monday, September 27th at the Galesburg Public Library 5:30pm-7:30pm Moderna, Pfizer & Janssen.
The Health Department continues to offer Curbside COVID-19 Testing on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; appointments are made same day by calling 309-344-2225 beginning at 7:15 a.m. Additionally, health care providers in the community are offering testing options as well as local pharmacies. Credible sources for information about COVID-19 include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov and Illinois Department of Public Health www.dph.illinois.gov. For general questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931, email dph.sick@illinois.gov or call your Knox County Health Department at 309-344-2224 or email covid19@knoxcountyhealth.org.