Monthly Archives: November 2020
Read more about the article Public health officials say Champaign County is at a “critical juncture” in the pandemicGoogle Street View
The exterior of Carle Foundation Hospital's emergency department in Urbana during October 2019.

Public health officials say Champaign County is at a “critical juncture” in the pandemic

On Monday, Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department Administrator Julie Pryde, joined by officials from Carle Foundation Hospital and OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana, warned that hospitals are approaching capacity. The officials said that Region 6 — which covers 21 counties in east-central Illinois including Champaign County — has only 29% of its Intensive Care Unit capacity and 29% of its hospital bed capacity remaining as virus cases surged.

Continue ReadingPublic health officials say Champaign County is at a “critical juncture” in the pandemic
Read more about the article University building monitoring for COVID-19 lax after shortfall in hiringVivian La
A vacant building monitor desk in the School of Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics in Urbana.

University building monitoring for COVID-19 lax after shortfall in hiring

To get into University of Illinois buildings, students and employees are supposed to show an app saying that they’ve had a recent, clean COVID-19 test. Nearly one-third of the time, however, there’s no one at the door to check their status.

Continue ReadingUniversity building monitoring for COVID-19 lax after shortfall in hiring
Read more about the article Religious communities connect online during pandemic
Children at Holy Cross Elementary School in socially-distanced reading circles in October. Facebook/HolyCrossElemSchool

Religious communities connect online during pandemic

As COVID-19 cases surge, Champaign County along with the entire State of Illinois tightened restrictions last week on gatherings, including those of religious organizations.…

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Read more about the article Carle health system launches COVID-19 hospitalizations, ICU occupancy trackerCarle.org
Carle's new dashboard is updated daily with statistics on COVID-19 for the Carle Health System.

Carle health system launches COVID-19 hospitalizations, ICU occupancy tracker

Since March, a total of 80 COVID-19 patients have died in the Carle Health System and 511 have been discharged. Carle shares these trends “to inform our region of the reality we’re facing today,” according to the website. “As the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, we continue to meet our community’s healthcare needs whether it’s care for COVID, heart attack, stroke or trauma.”

Continue ReadingCarle health system launches COVID-19 hospitalizations, ICU occupancy tracker
Read more about the article COVID-19 Testing Accessibility: Disparities, Barriers and Plans For FutureCU-CitizenAccess
Cars in line at the Marketplace mall COVID-19 testing center in mid-November. When a car reaches the end of the line, a worker guides them through a 20-second, self-administered nasal swab.

COVID-19 Testing Accessibility: Disparities, Barriers and Plans For Future

There has been concern nationally about the ability of people of color to get tested for COVID-19, especially because they have been identified as more vulnerable to the virus. Melaney Arnold, public health information officer at the Illinois Department of Public Health, wrote in an email, “The data show Black and Hispanic populations are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.”

Continue ReadingCOVID-19 Testing Accessibility: Disparities, Barriers and Plans For Future
Read more about the article University of Illinois sees spike in faculty, staff, and grad student COVID-19 cases as county battles ‘uncontrolled spread’Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess
COVID-19 testing takes place on the University of Illinois Quad in Urbana, IL on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.

University of Illinois sees spike in faculty, staff, and grad student COVID-19 cases as county battles ‘uncontrolled spread’

Cases and deaths have been rising in Champaign County and the other 20 counties that make up what the state public health officials designate as Region 6, which covers East central Illinois. The county is also on a state alert because of the rate of infection, 471 cases per 100,000, which nine times the target rate of 50 cases per 100,000.

Continue ReadingUniversity of Illinois sees spike in faculty, staff, and grad student COVID-19 cases as county battles ‘uncontrolled spread’
Read more about the article Calculation of COVID-19 positivity rate by university produces lower numbers than state
The Illinois Department of Public Health reports 7-day rolling averages of the COVID-19 test positivity rate for each region of Illinois. Champaign County, home of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is part of region 6 which has experienced 8 days of positivity increases, reaching 12.2% on November 8.

Calculation of COVID-19 positivity rate by university produces lower numbers than state

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s revised calculation of the campus positivity rate of COVID-19 has potentially lowered the rate substantially by reducing the number of reported positive tests. Epidemiologists say the more accurate way to calculate positivity would be to divide unique positive tests by unique total tests, but that information is not always available.

Continue ReadingCalculation of COVID-19 positivity rate by university produces lower numbers than state
Read more about the article South Willis neighborhood creates togetherness in a time of isolationGoogle Street View
The intersection of Green St. and Willis Ave. on Google Street View, last updated in October 2015.

South Willis neighborhood creates togetherness in a time of isolation

With the South Willis area relying heavily on community-centered events and interactions, the coronavirus pandemic has made it difficult for neighbors to interact and participate in activities like they have in the past. Despite these challenges, they have found a way to come together in an even stronger way during these unprecedented times.

Continue ReadingSouth Willis neighborhood creates togetherness in a time of isolation
Read more about the article Limited funding prevents West Urbana brick sidewalks from being accessibleSydney Wood
A brick sidewalk in need of repair located near the intersection of South Busey Ave. near West California Ave. in Urbana. Photo taken November 2, 2020.

Limited funding prevents West Urbana brick sidewalks from being accessible

Despite ongoing major road construction within West Urbana, multiple stretches of brick sidewalks that do not meet the standards of the federal disability act will not be fixed. Urbana City Administrator Carol Mitten said the City doesn’t have the finances to correct every non-ADA compliant sidewalk in Urbana that is outside of MCORE’s construction zone.

Continue ReadingLimited funding prevents West Urbana brick sidewalks from being accessible
Read more about the article Lierman neighborhood continues to face difficulties to receive “quality of life”Lierman Neighborhood Community Garden - Facebook
The Lierman Neighborhood Community Garden posts photos of the community and events taking place in the garden regularly. Photo from Facebook in September 2020.

Lierman neighborhood continues to face difficulties to receive “quality of life”

A community garden in one Urbana neighborhood has helped its residents overcome two prevailing issues: crime and food insecurity.

Continue ReadingLierman neighborhood continues to face difficulties to receive “quality of life”