Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the director of Illinois’ health department and face of regular COVID-19 updates, will be stepping down from her post this month, Gov. JB Pritzker announced. Pritzker made the announcement Tuesday afternoon during a COVID-19 press conference at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. “For over three years, Dr. Ngozi Ezike has served […]
Tag: Illinois Department of Public Health
Posted inState News
Lilly’s new COVID-19 antibody drug to begin being distributed in Illinois
A new monoclonal antibody treatment designed to keep people diagnosed with COVID-19 out of the hospital is beginning to be distributed in Illinois, health officials said. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization on February 11 for a new monoclonal antibody called bebtelovimab. Bebtelovimab will join another monoclonal antibody treatment, […]
Posted inState News
IDPH, ISBE to update COVID-19 isolation guidelines for schools to align with CDC
(The Center Square) – Illinois officials are updating COVID-19 isolation and quarantine guidelines for schools to mirror new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC issued new guidance on Tuesday that shortened the isolation and quarantine periods for the general public from 10 days to five days. Parents across the […]
Posted inState News
Health officials say new antiviral COVID-19 pills will be available in Illinois this month
The state health department announced that two new COVID-19 oral antivirals, which have been shown to reduce hospitalizations, will be arriving in Illinois later this month. Paxlovid, made by Pfizer, and Molnupiravir, made by Merck, were both given emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December. The antivirals are for those […]
Posted inState News
Illinois adopts CDC recommendation for COVID-19 booster shots for children ages 12-15
The Illinois Department of Public Health has adopted the CDC’s recommendation for children ages 12-15 to get their COVID-19 booster vaccine, the department announced. On Wednesday, the Center for Disease and Prevention Control (CDC) endorsed their Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendation to expand eligibility of booster doses to those 12 to 15 years old. […]
Posted inState News
Illinois reports nearly 130,000 new cases, 386 new recorded deaths from COVID-19 in past week
State health officials reported nearly 130,000 new cases and almost 400 new deaths from COVID-19 in the past week in Illinois as hospitalizations continue to increase. Since last Thursday, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 128,246 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID in Illinois along with an increase of 386 recorded deaths. […]
Posted inLocal News
Over 230 hospitalized with COVID-19 in Lake, McHenry counties as state reports nearly 60,000 weekly COVID cases
Over 230 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in Lake and McHenry counties as the Illinois Department of Public Health reported nearly 60,000 new COVID-19 cases in the past week in the state. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on Friday reported 59,312 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois, including an increase […]
Posted inState News
Health department announces first case of Omicron COVID-19 variant in Illinois
Health officials on Tuesday announced Illinois’ first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in a fully vaccinated resident. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) said Illinois’ first known COVID-19 case caused by the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) was identified in a Chicago resident. The Chicago resident came in […]
Posted inState News
Court grants Gov. Pritzker’s request to move school mask mandate lawsuit to different county
The Illinois Supreme Court granted Gov. Pritzker’s request to move a massive class-action lawsuit over the state’s school mask mandate and other COVID rules to a different county. The case was filed by attorney Thomas DeVore on October 20 in Macoupin County against Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Illinois […]