4 men, 3 unvaccinated, among latest Sangamon County COVID-19-related deaths
Sangamon County Public Health officials reported four new COVID-19 related deaths Monday.
The report also tallied infections since Saturday. A total of 1,235 new positive test results were confirmed — 411 on Saturday, 278 on Sunday and 546 reported Monday. There have been 49,761 cases of COVID-19 in Sangamon County since the pandemic began and 338 deaths. Menard County reported 77 new positives for the same period bringing the total cases to 3,205 and 13 deaths.
Of the four Sangamon County deaths, all were men and three were unvaccinated. The unvaccinated included a man in his 50s who tested positive on Dec. 29 and died Friday, a man in his 70s who tested positive on Jan. 5 and died Sunday, and a man in his 80s who tested positive on Jan. 16 and died Monday. Another man who had received the vaccine but no booster also died Friday. He was in his 70s and tested positive for the virus on Jan. 4.
Patients being treated for COVID-19 in Sangamon County hospitals was up to 124, according to the report, 15 more than the 109 confirmed on Friday.
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Jacksonville schools to pause
Jacksonville schools will take a pause Thursday and Friday because of the COVID-19 surge, according to District 117 Superintendent Steve Ptacek.
The district will use one "emergency day." The district will be in session March 7 for Casimir Pulaski Day, usually a day off.
In making the announcement on Facebook, Ptacek said he wanted to give parents and guardians "and other organizations that feel the impact of our closings time to plan."
"Beyond our educational curriculum, we do provide a safe location for young students while parents are at work, and parents deserve time to prepare in the event alternative plans are needed," Ptacek added.
Wednesday is a half-day "school improvement day." Students will return to school next Monday.
In Springfield School District 186, there were four classrooms in "adaptive pause" on Monday due to student absences, said spokeswoman Bree Hankins. That means classes had large absences due to COVID-19.
Three classrooms will be in adaptive pause Tuesday, she added
Remote work: As remote work at the Capitol continues, some state lawmakers attend meetings on the road
Driver services facilities reopen
Illinois driver services facilities and Secretary of State departments have reopened for in-person transactions after being closed since Jan. 3 because of the COVID-19 surge.
Driver service facilities that operate on a Tuesday through Saturday schedule will reopen on Tuesday.
Online services have remained open on the Illinois Secretary of State website, Secretary of State Jesse White said in a news release. The Drivers and Vehicles Services hotline phone number will continue to remain open at (800) 252-8980.
All driver's license and ID card expiration dates have been extended to March 31.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Sangamon County Public Health reports 4 new COVID-related deaths
