 Earlier this week, Governor Pritzker visited the Lake County Fairgrounds to be a part of the launch of Lake County's drive-thru vaccination site. During his visit, he toured the facility and visited with local leaders. Governor Pritzker commended Lake County on its vaccination efforts.
Hundreds of employees and volunteers have been working hard to vaccinate those in Phase 1a.
The Lake County Fairgrounds is an appointment only vaccination clinic, no walk-ins will be accepted. Currently, appointments are only available to the remaining Phase 1a population.
All that live or work in Lake County are encouraged to sign up on the AllVax Portal to be notified when you are eligible to schedule an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Governor Pritzker and Lake County Health Department Executive Director Mark Pfister urged patience as vaccine supply is still limited. As more vaccine doses are shipped, more vaccine appointments will open in the coming weeks.
Watch the press conference here.
 On January 25, the State of Illinois advanced to Phase 1b in the Illinois COVID-19 Vaccination Plan. Phase 1b includes frontline essential workers and residents age 65 and over.
The Lake County Health Department continues to vaccinate individuals in Phase 1a at the Lake County Fairgrounds drive-thru site, but will soon be moving into Phase 1b.
With more than 200,000 Lake County residents in Phase 1b, the Health Department is partnering with area pharmacies, hospitals, and healthcare providers to help vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible.
Anyone who lives or works in Lake County, regardless of which Phase they're in, can register to be notified when the Lake County Health Department has a vaccination appointment available to them. Register at AllVax.lakecohealth.org.
Residents in Phase 1a or 1b who have already registered in AllVax are encouraged to take any opportunity they can to get their COVID-19 vaccine through a local healthcare provider or pharmacy. There is no need to remove your account from AllVax system if you are vaccinated elsewhere. The AllVax system will communicate with the State’s vaccine records to reflect vaccinations given by other parties, allowing the county to better track the progress toward its goal of vaccinating 80% of the population.
For details on occupations included in Phase 1b, visit www.lakecountyil.gov/vaccine and to learn more about the State's vaccine plan and timeline, visit https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccination-plan.
 On January 26, Region 9, which includes Lake and McHenry Counties, entered into Tier 1 mitigation. Keep track of Region 9’s metrics through the IDPH’s Illinois Regional COVID-19 Resurgence Criteria page.
What is now available in Tier 1?
Below is a brief overview of what is now available in Tier 1. For a complete list, please refer to Illinois’ Tier 1 Resurgence Guidelines.
Bars and restaurants
- Indoor dining allowed with limit to 25 guests or 25% capacity per room, whichever is less.
- A maximum of 4 persons per party (dining only with members of the same household).
- No ordering, seating, or congregating at the bar.
Meetings, Social Events, Gatherings
Including weddings, funerals, potlucks, etc.
- Limit to 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity, whichever is less.
- No party buses.
Organized group recreational activities
Includes fitness centers, sports, etc.
- Sports should follow the mitigation measures set forth in the All Sports Guidelines, which outlines appropriate levels of practice and competition based on individual sport risk.
- Face coverings must be worn at all times in fitness centers.
When could we move in to Phase 4?
Region 9 will be able to move in to Phase 4 mitigations when the following metrics are met:
- Testing positivity rate averages less than or equal to 6.5% over a 3-day period (7-day average); AND
- Staffed ICU bed availability is greater than or equal to 20% for three consecutive days (7-day average); AND
- The region has no sustained increase in COVID-19 patients in the hospital (7-day average for 7 of 10 days).
When you receive your first dose of the vaccine, you will be given a card with information about the type of vaccine you received, including the manufacturer and the lot number. The card will also indicate the date that you should schedule your second shot. This is three weeks from the date of your first shot if you received the Pfizer vaccine, and four weeks from the date of your first shot if you received the Moderna vaccine.
You will not be able to schedule your second shot earlier than the 3 or 4 week minimum. It is recommended to schedule your second shot as close to the date as possible. If you cannot schedule on the exact date, the CDC has stated that it is OK to wait up to 6 weeks after the first dose for both manufacturers. It is not recommended to wait beyond 6 weeks, as there is currently limited data on the effectiveness of the vaccines beyond this period.
If you received your first shot by scheduling an appointment through the AllVax portal, you will receive an email through the portal one week prior to your recommended date for the second shot, prompting you to schedule your appointment.
 If you're a Lake County resident and need help paying rent or utility bills because you've lost income due to COVID-19, you are encouraged to apply for the Lake County COVID Housing Relief Program (CHRP).
Applying is easy—simply dial 211 from your phone or text your zip code to 898211, and you will be connected with someone who can help. Learn more about the Lake County COVID Housing Relief Program.
Save lives by donating blood! There is currently a nationwide shortage of supply and all blood types are needed. There are two organizations in Lake County that participate in blood collection:
- Vitalant: Vitalant (formerly LifeSource) operates two donation locations in Lake County, in Gurnee and Lake Bluff. Please schedule your appointment in advance by calling 877-258-4825 or visiting vitalant.org.
- American Red Cross: Schedule an appointment at https://redcrossblood.org.
For other ways to help, visit Lake County Health Departments page on How You Can Help.
 If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has it, getting tested can help you know what steps to take to keep your loved ones safe. Remember to focus on prevention first! Take steps to avoid being exposed to COVID-19. Due to the rapid spread of the virus over the past several weeks, demand for testing is very high. This can lead to increased wait times at testing sites and longer wait times for results.
Where can I get tested?
Contact your doctor to ask about testing availability, or check the Lake County Testing Site Locator for options.
State-run Community-Based Testing Sites located in Waukegan (102 W. Water St.), Arlington Heights (2000 W Euclid Ave.), and Rockford (1601 Parkview Ave.) are open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Testing at these sites is free. These sites have drive-through testing, as well as walk-up testing for those who do not have a vehicle or need to use public transportation. Please note, you are not permitted to exit your car to use the walk-up line once you arrive. For more information, visit the IDPH website.
The State’s mobile testing unit will be in Lake County this month:
Thursday, February 4, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mundelein Metra Station
205 N. Archer Ave., Mundelein
The mobile testing unit will also be in eastern McHenry County this month:
Friday, February 5, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
McHenry County College (Parking Lot F)
8900 US-14, Crystal Lake
Testing is free and open to all regardless of symptoms. A phone number and name are required in order to receive testing results. Photo identification and proof of insurance are helpful, but not required. High demand for testing may result in long wait times. Testing locations may close early due to inclement weather or if daily testing supplies are exhausted. Additional COVID-19 testing locations and information can be found at the IDPH website.
How do I get my test results?
If you were tested by your own healthcare provider, please contact them directly and follow their instructions for getting your test results. If you were tested at a State-run Community-Based Testing Site or mobile testing site, you will receive a phone call with your results.
If you were recently tested at a mobile COVID-19 testing site and you have not been contacted within 7 days, please call 888-297-7208 or visit https://idph-mychart.pchosted.com/idph/Authentication/Login
Lake County COVID-19 Cases
As of January 29, 2021, 51,716 Lake County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, including 865 deaths.
Our Coronavirus Data Hub provides data and resources for our county, including cases and deaths, tests performed, demographic data, and an interactive map and charts.
View the Lake County, IL Coronavirus Data Hub
Do you have questions? The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has established a COVID-19 hotline and email address to answer questions from the public:
For additional information from the IDPH, visit: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus
Community Guidance and Resources
Protect yourself and your community. Our Information for Specific Groups page is now Community Guidance and Resources. This page is more user-friendly and has information to help residents stay safe and informed.
Communication Resources
We need your help to keep our communities healthy and safe. The Lake County Health Department, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer free resources including fact sheets, flyers, posters, and videos.
View communication resources
Forwarded this email? Sign up to receive COVID-19 updates directly from the Lake County Health Department.
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