COVID-19

People with immune system health problems continue to take precautions against COVID-19 five years into the pandemic

The Illinois Department of Public Health last week reported an increase in the state’s respiratory illness level from moderate to high, fueled by an anticipated early winter surge in hospital admissions.

COVID-19 levels are now high in McHenry County, according to the latest data on respiratory illnesses.

Five years after the virus that causes COVID emerged in China it still holds some mysteries

Free flu, COVID and RSV testing will soon be available to McHenry County residents amid a surge in cases of respiratory illness.

A Joliet man has been indicted on charges alleging he fraudulently obtained $20,833 from a federal program that helped businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Joliet woman and man have been charged with $91,558 in COVID-19 pandemic relief fraud and one of them is accused of obtaining a $275,900 loan through identity theft.

Bielema: Rita Crundwell's commutation was a miscarriage of justice and she should have had to the pay the full price in the name of fairness to her victims – the same ones she stole from year, after year, after year.

An Indiana man has been charged with fraudulently obtaining $41,666 in pandemic relief money and $1,126 in unemployment benefits in Crest Hill, court records show.

Will County prosecutors requested a warrant for the arrest of a former Joliet Township official when he didn't show up to court on Tuesday. The judge continued the case to Oct. 22 for warrant application.

The Will County Health Department has the new 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine is now available at 3 clinics across the county.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is reminding the public that along with fall, October brings the start of the traditional respiratory virus season.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to “censor” some COVID-19 content during the pandemic and vowed that the social media giant would push back if it faced such demands again

As schools reopen for another year, they are focused on improving student attendance. But back-to-school is hitting just as COVID-19 cases are increasing, raising the question: When is a child too sick for school?

A Will County woman who once worked as a state revenue auditor allegedly purchased an Italian luxury vehicle with fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan funds to launder money.

A Will County woman has been charged with defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program out of $41,665 while working for the Illinois Department of Revenue.

COVID-19 is on the uptick in the United States and McHenry County.

President Joe Biden has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a speaker at the UnidosUS annual conference broadcast on the White House’s YouTube channel

Several McHenry County-area chambers are getting Back to Business grants from the state to offset the effects of the pandemic.

Dr. Anthony Fauci faced heated questioning from Republican lawmakers about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic

Projects included in the funding are anti-violence behavioral health programs, the Kane County Food and Farm Resiliency Project and a countywide economic development organization.

The proposal called for using a total of about $18 million of the federal American Rescue Plan Act funds the county received.

New vaccine clinic and space for public restrooms are among the changes McHenry County is looking to make for its health department facility in Crystal Lake.

IDPH has also confirmed this week that there was a third pediatric death due to influenza, all with December onsets

Silver Cross Hospital and Ascension St. Joseph-- Joliet have instituted extra precautions as winter respiratory illness season sees COVID-19, flu, and RSV numbers increase across the state, though local numbers remain moderate.

Wearing a mask is required of all visitors of hospitalized patients in all units while in patient rooms.

Lee, Ogle, Boone and Winnebago counties are now at high for COVID hospitalizations; severals others in the northern Illinois region have moved to medium.

A La Salle County woman in her 80s has died from complications related to COVID-19, the La Salle County Health Department announced Friday.

Sauk Valley-area hospitals are continuing with visitor restrictions put in place earlier this month when the number of respiratory illness cases began to increase.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued a warning going into the holidays to take extra health precautions as COVID-19, flu, and RSV numbers continue to rise.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is advising Illinoisans to take precautions to avoid spreading respiratory illnesses as cases around the state and country are on the rise.

DeKalb County COVID-19 hospitalizations are on the rise, warned area health officials this week amid a statewide uptick in Illinois hospitalizations related to respiratory illnesses, which also include RSV and the flu.

Saying it would send the wrong message, Kane County Board members shunned a proclamation this week supporting residents who choose not to get a COVID-19 vaccination.

Lee and Ogle counties are 2 of the 20 statewide counties up to medium level of COVID-19 activity

The Will County Health Department and community Heath Center is offering the new COVID-19 booster shot at their offices and encourage residents to consider immunization.

With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, the Will County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division wanted to remind residents about food safety at the holidays.

IDPH launches campaign to fight triple threat of COVID-19, flu, RSV.

“Protecting yourself and your loved ones now will ensure protection throughout the fall/winter respiratory virus season," said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra

COVID-19 vaccines were updated to the 2023-2024 formula on Sept. 12, 2023.

Back to school means back to the doctor for some, as three viral respiratory illnesses – influenza, RSV and COVID-19 – are again expected to dominate seasonal sickness trends this year, and area health officials say to expect an uptick in October.

When the U.S. ended its COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, it changed the way hospitals are supplied with vaccine doses. CGH Medical Center's order of 50 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine currently is on backorder.

The Back to Business grant program provides recovery grants for businesses in the hardest-hit industries. The state has provided more than $535 million to more than 15,000 businesses since March 2020.

Those with insurance aren't eligible but should contact their pharmacy or doctor, officials advised.

Monday marked the return of free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government, a move that comes amid an uptick in patients hospitalized with the virus.

The fall season has generally seen an uptick in cases during the pandemic. That's true this year so far, but to a lesser extent.

On the heels of federal regulators approving updated COVID-19 vaccines last week, medical providers and retail pharmacies are in the midst of a mass rollout of shots.

The Kane County Health Department endorses Illinois Department of Public Health recommendations for COVID-19 shots.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is continuing to closely watch COVID-19 data and monitor other respiratory viruses, particularly flu and RSV, ahead of the fall and winter seasons.

The trials begin next week, and the medical group is seeking other patients to participate. Anyone suffering from long COVID and interested in participating should contact the NorthShore--Edward-Elmhurst Health at IDResearch@northshore.org or call (224) 364-7971.

Los Panchos, a restaurant in south Sycamore, closed last month, but the owners of the building are trying to attract new investors to operate out of the space.