SPRINGFIELD – The state’s higher education agencies released updated COVID-19 guidance this week encouraging all public and private higher education institutions in Illinois to issue mandatory vaccine policies.

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. J.B. Pritzker stressed the importance of COVID-19 vaccinations Monday as positivity rates and hospitalizations continued to decline but variants of the virus have proven to be more transmissible and dangerous to those who are not vaccinated.

This week the Effingham County Health Department received confirmation of two new positive cases of COVID-19, a boy under 10 and a woman in her 30s.

The American Red Cross is experiencing a severe blood shortage as the number of trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgeries rise — and deplete the nation’s blood inventory.

The Effingham County Health Department received confirmation of two new positive cases of COVID-19 — a teen and a male in his 20s.

SPRINGFIELD – Starting Friday, Illinois will be in Phase 5 of the COVID-19 reopening plan, meaning businesses and organizations can resume normal activity, although some limited restrictions will remain in place.

Lake Land College announced Wednesday that it will be following the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines regarding mask requirements effective June 11 in accordance with the Governor’s plan to reopen the state under Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois Plan.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois announced that all Catholics across the diocese will be obligated to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation starting June 12, the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

This week the Effingham County Health Department announced there have been no new positive cases of COVID in over 30 days for the 65-and-older age group.

SPRINGFIELD – The state’s COVID-19 metrics continued to improve Monday ahead of Friday’s planned statewide reopening.

The Effingham County Health Department will have a first-dose Pfizer clinic for ages 12 and up on Tuesday, June 8, from 9 a.m. to noon, a first- and second-dose-only Moderna clinic on Thursday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to noon, and a Johnson and Johnson “one and done” clinic on Friday, June 11, …

This week the Effingham County Health Department announces seven positive cases of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19); none on Tuesday, four on Wednesday and three on Thursday.

This week the Effingham County Health Department announced that over 10,000 Effingham County residents are now fully vaccinated.

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a new executive order Monday that allows fully vaccinated residents to not wear masks inside and outdoors.

SPRINGFIELD – The state is opening vaccinations to Illinoisans age 12-15, and a major theme park operator is offering 50,000 free admission tickets in an effort to encourage vaccination in that age group.

The Effingham County Health Department announced 10 new COVID-19 cases from Saturday through Monday.

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a new state program Monday that aims to increase vaccine access in low-income, vulnerable communities and to connect residents across the state to COVID-19 assistance programs for transportation, food, utilities or other resources.

Vaccines are the No. 1 protection against numerous serious illnesses. COVID-19 has proved to have serious and life-threatening effects on the public, which is why the CDC encourages you to get the COVID-19 immunization.

CHICAGO — Illinois health officials on Sunday reported 2,035 new cases of COVID-19 including 24 new deaths.

The Effingham County Health Department announced the COVID-related death of a woman in her 60s, bringing the number of confirmed COVID-related deaths in the county to 72.

SPRINGFIELD — Numbers released by the Illinois Department of Public Health on Tuesday show the COVID-19 infection rate in the state is improving for the first time in weeks.

Effingham County Health Department announced 10 new positive cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, ranging in age from 30s to 80s.

Effingham County Health Department announced 21 new positive cases of COVID-19 from Friday through Sunday. Cases range in age from youth to 70s.

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. J.B. Pritzker reiterated Thursday that all Illinois residents age 16 and older will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine beginning Monday, April 12, as vaccine supply – but also virus transmission rates and hospitalizations – continues to increase.

The Effingham County Health Department announced 18 new positive cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Wednesday. Those testing positive range in age from teens to 80s.

SPRINGFIELD – Public health officials on Wednesday announced 3,790 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 out of 80,628 test results reported over the previous 24 hours, bringing the statewide seven-day rolling positivity rate to 4.1 percent, the highest that figure has stood since Jan. 30.

The Effingham County Health Department announced 17 new positive cases of COVID-19 from Friday, April 2, through Monday, April 5, ranging in age from teens to 70s.

On April 1, 2020, the Effingham County Health Department received confirmation of its first positive COVID case.

SPRINGFIELD – The state reported 3,526 new confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 Thursday, the highest one-day total since Feb. 5.

Effingham County Health Department announced Tuesday nine new positive cases of COVID-19, ranging in age from younger than 10 to 70s.

SPRINGFIELD – COVID-19 hospitalizations and case positivity rates continued to trend upward Monday, leaving entry into a recently-announced “bridge” phase of reopening uncertain even as the percentage of seniors vaccinated continued to increase.

The Effingham County Health Department announced two COVID-related deaths, one of a woman in her 50s and one of a woman in her 90s on Monday. It also announced four new cases of the virus.

The Effingham County Health Department announced six new COVID-19 cases on Thursday.

The Effingham County Health Department announced four new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. They are three teens and one man in his 20s.

The Effingham County Health Department has announced that it still has a large number of openings for its upcoming first-dose clinics. Moving forward the health department will be opening up its clinics to Illinois residents age 18 and older.

Effingham County Health Department announced Tuesday five new positive cases of COVID-19. They include three teens, a female in her 30s and a male in his 40s.

Effingham County Health Department announced a total of three new COVID-19 cases from Sunday and Monday. Two are in their teens and one is in his 30s.

Effingham County Health Department announced a total of eight new COVID-19 cases over Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20.

The Effingham County Health Department will have first-dose COVID vaccination clinics on Thursday, March 25, and Friday, March 26.

Effingham County Health Department announced six new positive cases of COVID-19 from Tuesday through Thursday.