There’s finally some momentum in a good direction in regard to covid-19 in the Illinois Quad-Cities, Region 2 and the state in general. Positivity rates for coronavirus cases were the lowest they’ve been since March, at 3.3 percent. Statewide, over the past week an average of 72,613 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered daily, bringing the total number of people vaccinated statewide to 9,450,418, according to the Illinois Department of Health. At this point, 4,145,711, or 32.54% of the total population of the state, has been fully vaccinated. Over half of Illinois residents... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: While covid-19 numbers across Illinois have been getting worse, particularly in the Quad-Cities’ Region 2, that may not automatically trigger shutdowns and mitigations, Illinois Department of Health officials said today. “The resurgence mitigation plan was designed before we had vaccines,” Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said in a statement. All 11 of Illinois’ regions are in Phase 4, where they’ve been since emerging from mitigations in February. Previously, mitigations would automatically kick in, triggering more restrictions,... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Rock Island County covid-19 numbers have remained steady over the past week, but the numbers in and around Peoria continue to look ominous for Illinois Region 2, which includes the Illinois Quad-Cities. If Peoria’s numbers continue to drag the region down, it could lead to the entire region, including the Quad-Cities, going back into a shutdown or other mitigations for covid. Based on the latest numbers released over the weekend by the Illinois Department of Health, Rock Island County has held pretty constant around a 5 percent positivity rate for covid, safely below the 8... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: With covid-19 numbers beginning to soar nationwide, a consortium of researchers has recommended that some states — including Illinois — should again issue stay-home orders to stop the momentum of the outbreaks. As of yet, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has remained optimistic about the state’s ability to turn the numbers around, however, he has acknowledged the negative trend. Covid numbers have been on the rise in Illinois over the past few weeks, particularly surging around Chicago and Central Illinois, most notably Peoria, which could drive Region 2, which includes... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: In the wake of huge celebrations on and around St. Patrick’s Day, covid numbers in Rock Island County are spiking again, causing the  Illinois Department of Public Health to put a warning status on Rock Island County. The Rock Island County Health Department reported 41 new cases today, making today the highest single day amount since early February. Prior to today, the new case reports were over 20 a day, which represented an increase over the previous week, although not as drastic a spike. “We are very worried about the rapidly rising cases this week,” said Nita Ludwig,... Read More

Imagine someone you love. Someone who truly has impacted your life. Someone you can’t imagine life without. Now imagine life without them. Imagine how devastated you would be, how drowned in sadness you would feel. I see people expressing this feeling every day on social media. People who have lost loved ones to covid. Their posts are heartbreaking. They exude sorrow and helplessness, as they struggle against the fact that someone who meant so much to them, who was so much a part of their world, is now gone. Many of these people are older. Many are parents, who were the foundation to their... Read More

BREAKING: Things are going back to normal — for the most part — in the Illinois Quad-Cities. According to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker in his daily press conference, the region including Rock Island County and the Illinois Quad-Cities has met the metrics to be moved to phase 4 in covid-19 mitigations. The move means that things can get much more back to normal, as restaurants and bars can accommodate groups of up to 10 at tables and gatherings such as meetings and weddings can have up to 50 people at one time. Youth sports, including basketball and soccer can resume, according to the... Read More

BREAKING: Due to covid-19 numbers getting better in the Quad-Cities Region 2, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced Sunday that the region is moving out of Tier 2 restrictions and into Tier 1. Indoor dining at 25% capacity will now be allowed in all Region 2 counties, including Bureau, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Kendall, Knox, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, McDonough, McLean, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, and Woodford. This marks the second Illinois region in two days to be moved to Tier 1, as Region 5 was moved to Tier 1 restrictions on... Read More

Phases, tiers, mitigations… oh my! Many have seen a variety of terms used in regard to the precautionary measures put forth by the state of Illinois in its covid-19 protocols, as we all await word on how these mitigations are going to impact our lives as they change over time. As we at QuadCities.com have reported, the Quad-Cities area is scheduled to go from tier 3 to the less restrictive tier 2 on Friday. But what does that mean? Sure, I can say, according to the metrics put forth by Pritzker on Nov. 20, a region can move down to Tier 2 mitigations if it sees a test positivity rate less... Read More

BREAKING: As first reported on QuadCities.com, the Quad-Cities region will be reducing covid-19 mitigations starting Friday, as confirmed today during Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s press conference on covid mitigations in the state. “On Jan. 15, exactly one incubation period from New Year’s Day, any region that has met the metrics for a reduction of mitigations will be able to move out of Tier 3 of our mitigation plan,” Pritzker said. Illinois Region 2 — including Rock Island, Bureau, Stark, Henry, and Mercer counties — will step back from Tier 3 mitigations and move down... Read More