OREGON – There is finally some positive news when it comes to COVID-19 in Ogle County, Public Health Administrator Kyle Auman told the County Board at its Jan. 19 meeting.

Auman said that the positivity rate for the virus in the county is at about 5.7 percent, and the county has moved to Tier 1. That means restaurants can open for some inside dining. He said the county could soon see even more relaxed rules.

“Very exciting for not only Ogle County, but for our region,” he said.

He also told the board that hospital bed availability is better than it has been in a long time.

Auman said that the county has been administering the vaccine. He said more than 2,200 Ogle County residents have gotten the vaccine, and that 464 have gotten both doses. He said the county has almost completed Phase 1A of the vaccine plan, which includes healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents.

“Vaccine availability is still the thing holding us back,” he said.

Auman said the county will soon be moving to Phase 1B, which will see law enforcement, firefighters and other front-line workers as well as high-risk adults and seniors vaccinated. He said that phase will include about 22,000 people and will take “several months.”

Auman said the about 4,000 have pre-registered on the online portal the county has set up on its website for the vaccine.