- As of March 5, over 144,660 vaccine doses have been administered to Lake County residents and 43,295 residents (6.18% of the population) have been fully vaccinated. The county is averaging 4,308 doses administered per day on a 7-day rolling average. 44.02% of Lake County seniors ages 65 and older have received at least one dose.
- Our vaccination partners continue to assist us in vaccinating seniors, healthcare workers, Pre-K through 12th grade staff, daycare workers, and manufacturing employees.
- The federal government is opening a mass vaccination site to vaccinate 6,000 people per day at the United Center in Chicago starting March 9. Priority registration for seniors age 65+ is now open, and registration for others eligible in Phase 1b+ begin Sunday, March 7. For more information on this site and other ways to access the vaccine, visit our vaccine webpage.
- The Lake County Health Department continues to increase vaccinations at our Lake County Fairgrounds mass vaccination site, which will be operating 6 days per week starting next week. Vaccinations at this site include healthcare workers and others eligible in Phase 1a, as well as seniors ages 65 and older and first responders.
On Saturday, February 27, the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine approved for persons age 18 and older. This is the third COVID-19 vaccine authorized in the United States. It is a one-dose vaccine that can be stored at lower temperatures. The vaccine provides 85% protection against severe illness and 100% protection against COVID-19 hospitalization and death. The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine uses an adenovirus vectored vaccine, rather than the mRNA technology used by the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. Watch this video provided by Johnson & Johnson showcasing how an adenovector vaccine works.
For additional information, visit the Johnson and Johnson vaccine page.
On Tuesday, March 9, the United Center will open a vaccination site. Seniors 65 and older will be able to register early as of Thursday, March 4 at 8:30 a.m. on zocdoc.com/vaccine. Registration for remaining individuals eligible in Phase 1b Plus will open Sunday, March 7 at 4 p.m. If you cannot access the website, call (312) 746-4835. This hotline is open Monday – Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Vaccinations are by appointment only. There is no onsite registration. At this time, appointments are walk-up only. A drive-thru option will be available later in the month.
The United Center vaccination site is federally run and will be able to administer up to 6,000 doses per day.
Additional information can be found on the City of Chicago’s United Center page.
The United States continues to see an increase in COVID-19 cases caused by the variants. Currently, the most prominent variant throughout the U.S. is B.1.1.7 which was originally identified in the United Kingdom and first detected in the United States in December 2020. The variants originally identified in South Africa and Brazil were reported in the U.S. at the end of January 2021. The B.1.1.7 variant was first reported in Lake County on February 5, 2021.
It is common for viruses to change through mutation and for new variants to occur. The variants reported around the world seem to spread more easily and quickly. It is important to continue to follow the 3Ws—wear a mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance—to limit the spread of COVID-19. Studies are ongoing to monitor the authorized vaccines efficacy against the variants.
For more information on the variants, visit the CDC’s page About Variants of the Virus that cause COVID-19.
View CDC’s map of the United States showing US COVID-19 Cases Caused by Variants.
Hundreds of staff and volunteers have been working hard to serve the Lake County community. Their tireless effort is helping to move us all toward a healthier future. Michael Walker (pictured) is a registered nurse at our Addictions Treatment Program (ATP) and Crisis Care Program (CCP) at the Lake County Health Department. Throughout the pandemic he has been helping support our Communicable Disease team. He recently celebrated a monumental milestone of personally providing over 1,000 COVID-19 vaccinations. We appreciate all the time and effort the staff and volunteers have provided at our vaccination clinics!
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 Lake County residents age 16 and over are encouraged to register in the Lake County Health Department’s Allvax portal so they can be notified when they are eligible to schedule a vaccination appointment. Registration is fast and easy. Using an email address and the AllVax portal, you can register yourself as well as other members of your household. If you do not have access to sign up online, you can call 847-377-8130 for assistance.
When you access the portal, you will need to answer a few basic questions that identify certain risk factors, including your date of birth, the type of work you do, and health conditions. You will be given the option to share your information with other healthcare providers offering the vaccine. This will allow our partners to contact you if they have an available appointment.
Registering does not obligate you to schedule a vaccine, but will give you the chance to schedule when an appointment is available for you.
On Monday, March 1, in partnership with 14 municipal and government agencies, 344 vaccinations were administered to our local police officers, firefighters, and correctional officers, and local paramedics were trained in vaccine administration. Municipal EMS providers will be serving at our Lake County Fairgrounds site each week through the end of March. |
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We want to apologize for the error in our data reporting from the Region 9 section update last week. The positivity rate was reported to be 4.4 for the 7-day rolling average when on February 26, the positivity rate was actually 3.5.
 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 continues to be 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.
A mobile testing unit run by the IDPH will be in Lake County next week:
Saturday, March 6, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Highland Park Metra Station
1700 St. John’s Ave., Highland Park
Sunday, March 7, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mundelein Metra Station
205 N. Archer Ave., Mundelein
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
As of March 5, 2021, 55,248 Lake County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, including 926 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
Lake County AllVax Portal Resources
Visit our AllVax Frequently Asked Questions page to find answers and information about the COVID-19 vaccine in Lake County. Encourage members of the community to register in AllVax utilizing resources from the AllVax Portal Toolkit, including social media messages, guides, print materials, and more.
Community Guidance and Resources
Protect yourself and your community. Our Community Guidance and Resources page has information to help residents stay safe and informed. Specific group information can be found for:
- Businesses and employers
- Communities and faith-based organizations
- First responders and law enforcement
- Healthcare providers and hospitals
- Schools and childcare programs
- Travelers
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 communication resources including fact sheets, flyers, posters, and videos.
Join the Medical Reserve Corps
The Lake County Health Department is in need of volunteers with a valid medical license to fill roles as vaccinators, vaccine mixers, and wellness check observers at our mass vaccination sites. Visit our Lake County Medical Reserve Corps page to learn more.
Become a Community Health Ambassador
Community Health Ambassadors play a key role in helping our community members get vaccinated by sharing resources, answering FAQs, and encouraging community members to register on AllVax. Visit the Community Health Ambassador page for more information and to register.
Additional Ways to Help
Visit Lake County Health Departments How You Can Help page to find additional opportunities to donate or volunteer.
Forwarded this email? Sign up to receive COVID-19 updates directly from the Lake County Health Department.
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