County Board Health Committee Gets Updated on COVID in County

Members of the Effingham County Board Health Committee Tuesday heard that there have been 4,761 positive cases of Coronavirus Disease in the county. That includes 74 confirmed COVID-related deaths.

Of those deaths, only 12 involved someone under the age of 70. Karen Feldkamp of the Health Department said the others were people in their 40s or 50s. 

Feldkamp and Health Department Administrator Jeff Workman voiced concern that fewer people than hoped in the county have been vaccinated. Feldkamp said 33% of the county population has been immunized. Workman is concerned that if a COVID variant becomes more active, it could cause problems.

The aging population percentages are much better as far as getting vaccinated. Feldkamp said 77% of the county population age 65 and older have been fully immunized, and 81% of that age group has received at least one shot. Among those ages 16 to 64 years old, 35% in the county have received at least one vaccination, and 32% of that group has been fully immunized. 

Feldkamp was highly complimentary of the job by the school districts in Effingham County this past year to keep the schools open. She said, "We worked hard and the schools worked hard...all of the schools in the county."

Feldkamp also said that while the staff has had some downtime, they are already gearing up for the coming school year. She said they are meeting with county school superintendents on Wednesday morning. She also said they are waiting on guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health for the coming school year, and that IDPH is waiting on guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Feldkamp also reported that of those fully immunized in Effingham County, there have been just six cases of those folks who developed COVID.