Jan. 3, 2022 – The Rock Island County Health Department reports 651 new cases of COVID-19 since the last report on Wednesday, Dec. 29. The total number of cases now is 24,071. Currently, 91 patients are hospitalized in the county with the virus. The average age of newly infected patients is 35.
“We are in the middle of a holiday-related surge, so the high number of cases is not shocking. It’s frustrating, but it’s not shocking,” said Janet Hill, public information officer of the Rock Island County Health Department. “The high number of hospitalizations is hugely concerning to us and our healthcare partners — 91 is our county’s all-time high. This surge could have been prevented. Only about 60% of Rock Island County residents 5 and older have been vaccinated.
“If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, please do so as soon as possible, and if you are eligible, get boosted. Our hospital systems are stressed beyond capacity, and we haven’t hit the expected New Year’s surge within a surge,” Hill said.
The health department offers twice-a-week walk-in vaccination clinics for those 12 and older: Tuesdays (Moderna and Johnson & Johnson for 18 and older) and Fridays (Pfizer for 12 and older). The hours for both days are 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. Boosters or third doses for immunocompromised people are available on the same day as first and second doses. Boosters are offered for those have received their second dose Pfizer or Moderna six months ago or two months ago for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Appointments for this Friday’s pediatric Pfizer clinic for children ages 5-11 will be available on our Facebook page at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Healthcare and pharmacy partners also are doing vaccinations for both children and adults. Visit vaccines.gov to find your shot.
The health department is awaiting approval from the CDC for Pfizer boosters for children ages 12-15. The FDA gave the nod on Monday, but the CDC advisory panel and director must concur. If CDC approval is given by Friday, Pfizer boosters will be available to everyone 12 and older at the Friday walk-in clinic.
The new cases are
- 1 woman in her 90s
- 5 women in their 80s
- 10 women in their 70s
- 38 women in their 60s
- 46 women in their 50s
- 36 women in their 40s
- 75 women in their 30s
- 72 women in their 20s
- 8 women in their teens
- 17 girls in their teens
- 42 girls younger than 13
- 10 girl infants 1 or younger
- 1 man in his 90s
- 7 men in their 80s
- 15 men in their 70s
- 23 men in their 60s
- 23 men in their 50s
- 32 men in their 40s
- 54 men in their 30s
- 64 men in their 20s
- 9 men in their teens
- 14 boys in their teens
- 39 boys younger than 13
- 10 boy infants 1 or younger
No additional information regarding these cases is available due to federal privacy laws.
We all must continue to work to prevent further spread of COVID-19 by:
- Getting vaccinated or boosted as soon as you can. Visit vaccines.gov to find your shot. RICHD offers walk-in vaccines on Tuesdays (Moderna and Johnson & Johnson) and Fridays (Pfizer). The hours for both days are 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. Boosters or third doses for immunocompromised people are available on the same day as first and second doses. We offer vaccines for children ages 5-11 by appointment on Fridays. Our next available pediatric clinic is Jan. 7. The link to sign up for the pediatric clinic will be posted on our Facebook page at 10 a.m. Jan. 5. Many of our healthcare and pharmacy partners also are offering vaccines for children.
- Staying home when you are sick.
- Wearing a face covering. A mandate from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker requires that everyone 2 and older wear a mask in public indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. The CDC recommends that everyone age 2 and older wear a mask in counties of high or substantial transmission, which includes almost every county in the country.
- Keeping 6 feet of physical distance from others in public if you have not been fully vaccinated
- Washing your hands frequently.
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