Coronavirus

Augustana College is creating a new degree program to help pre-med students understand the social, psychological, and spiritual needs of their future patients. The minor will combine science and humanities classes with an internship at UnityPoint Health.  

 Augustana Philosophy Professor Heidi Storl co-created the new minor with History Professor Brian Leech. Storl says the pandemic has made the need for a minor like this more apparent. 

The COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Camden Centre in Milan is now accepting walk-ins whenever it's open.

COVID-19 vaccine supply in the Quad Cities is rising, as demand is plateauing. The Rock Island and Scott County Health Departments are stressing the importance of employers in getting the Quad Cities to herd immunity. Amy Thoreson, Interim Director of the Scott County Health Department, says the next phase of vaccinations depends on workplace policies.

The age of patients hospitalized from COVID-19 is now skewing younger. Genesis Health System reports higher hospitalizations in patients under 49. Scott County Medical Director Dr. Louis Katz says that’s because older patients were prioritized in vaccine rollouts, so less of them are being hospitalized.

“While the proportion of younger patients in the hospital is higher, the absolute number of younger patients in the hospital is pretty stable, so the shift to younger hospitalization is more relative than real.”

Distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has stopped in the Quad Cities, following the discovery of a rare side effect. Out of nearly 7 million recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 6 people have developed blood clots, one of whom died as a result.

Rock Island County is no longer in warning status for COVID-19.

Rock Island County has moved back into warning status for COVID-19 following a surge in cases. It’s one of the only counties in Region 2 of Illinois to do so, and unless a majority of the region reaches warning status, there won’t be any new restrictions on indoor dining or gatherings. 

In the months since the COVID-19 vaccine rollout began in Illinois, people have had to race to secure an appointment. This morning, the state vaccination site in Milan had roughly 400 empty slots. That’s half of its daily total. 

Chief Operating Officer Janet Hill says the new sign up system has been giving residents trouble. This week, the Rock Island County Health Department is administering the Pfizer vaccine, but some links were for Moderna. 

For the first time since the COVID-19 vaccine rollout began, the Rock Island County Health Department had open slots at its vaccination clinic.

Today marks a week since the National Guard was deployed to vaccinate Rock Island residents six days a week. With nearly 900 doses being administered a day, the wait is over for most people eligible under Phase 1B.