|
 Bailey Pushes for Improvements in Vaccination Program
State Senator Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) is calling out issues with the state’s vaccine program for failing to make satisfactory progress with residents of skilled-care facilities and nursing homes.
Bailey joined with his colleagues in the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus to author a letter to the Governor noting their concerns and asking Pritzker to make course corrections to improve the vaccine program. The letter pointed to a recent New York Times article that ranked Illinois 47th overall in vaccine distribution, and dead last compared to the sister states of Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and California. According to statistics from the Illinois Department of Public Health, of the 537,050 doses of vaccines available and allotted to long-term care facilities, only 20 percent of them have been administered. The long-term care facility population has made up nearly half of the COVID-related deaths.
“It’s clear the state’s efforts are failing to protect our most vulnerable,” said Sen. Bailey. “I think all along through this pandemic we’ve seen a complete lack of transparency from the Governor’s office in how they are handling things and a refusal to look at evidence and change course when it’s clearly necessary.”
The New York Times article referenced can be found at: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/covid-19-vaccine-doses.html
The letter is below:
COVID-19 Regional Update
As positivity rates decline and hospital bed capacity frees up, state-imposed COVID-19 restrictions have been loosening throughout Illinois.
Regions 7 (Kankakee and Will Counties), 8 (DuPage and Kane Counties), 9 (McHenry and Lake Counties), 10 (Suburban Cook County), and 11 (Chicago) have returned to Tier 1 mitigations, which allow for indoor restaurant service and events at 25% capacity along with social distancing precautions. Bar service is allowed but customers must be seated. For a full breakdown of Tier 1 guidelines, visit: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/sites/default/files/COVID19/IL%20Tier%201%20Resurgence%20Mitigations%20-%20January%2022%2C%202021%20Update.pdf
Regions 1 (Northern and Northwestern Illinois), 2 (including the Quad Cities and North-Central Illinois), 3 (Including the state Capitol in Springfield and Western Illinois), 5 (Far-Southern and Southeastern Illinois), and 6 (Eastern Illinois) have returned to the base Phase 4 guidelines. The guidelines allow indoor dining and bar service with social distancing precautions and indoor events are allowed with the lesser of 50 people or 50% capacity. For a full list of Phase 4 Guidelines, visit: https://dceoresources-ss-assets.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/public/Restore-Illinois/businessguidelines4/phase4overview.pdf
Region 4 (Metro East) remains under Tier 2 mitigations, which do not allow for indoor bar and restaurant service. For a full list of Tier 2 guidelines, visit: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/sites/default/files/COVID19/IL%20Tier%202%20Resurgence%20Mitigations%20-%20January%2022%2C%202021%20Update.pdf
IHDA Releases Funding to Help Strengthen Neighborhoods
The IHDA recently announced that $8 million in funding has been made available for the state’s Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Program (APP). The program is meant to help stimulate community redevelopment by eliminating blighted and abandoned residential properties.
The APP was first created in 2010 under the Save Our Neighborhoods Act. Funding for the program was expanded by subsequent legislation in June 2013. The current $8 million is part of the program’s fifth round of funding since its conception.
The APP application process is open to municipalities, counties and land banks and will remain open until Feb. 16. For more information about IDHA’s revitalization and repair programs or to apply for the APP, click here.
|
