Ogle County Health Department Public Administrator Kyle Auman revealed that in his monthly presentation to the Ogle County Board at its Tuesday meeting. The county is now at 4.3 percent positivity. On May 6, it was at 8.5 percent. Auman said county bed availability has improved, and 32 percent is the best he’s seen in months.
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Ogle County no longer has the highest COVID-19 positivity rate in Region 1.
Ogle County Health Department Public Administrator Kyle Auman revealed that in his monthly presentation to the Ogle County Board at its Tuesday meeting. The county is now at 4.3 percent positivity. On May 6, it was at 8.5 percent. Auman said county bed availability has improved, and 32 percent is the best he’s seen in months.
“We’re happy to see numbers improving,” Auman said.
As of Tuesday, 35,862 total COVID-19 vaccine doses had been given in Ogle County. 17,102 people are fully-vaccinated, making up 33.58 percent of the population.
The OCHD is doing various vaccination events itself and in conjunction with partners. Auman said his department is working to get more Pfizer does in order to get 12-17-year-olds vaccinated, an age group that recently became eligible for the vaccine.
“We have limited supplies of Pfizer,” Auman said. “Handling and storage of that vaccine is more complicated than the others. We want to plan and vaccinate that population.”
Auman explained the current state restrictions that allow those that are vaccinated to go mask less in some public places. Masks are still required for those that are unvaccinated. Auman hopes those rules are followed to keep case counts down.
The state’s bridge phase, which took effect May 14, allows some events with gathering to happen. Auman hopes numbers continue to improve so the state can enter phase 5 as planned on June 11, which has been referred to in the past as a full reopening.
The OCHD is working with school districts and other organizations such as county employees to implement newer COVID-19 testing procedures with quick turnaround on results.
“These will be great tools along with vaccines to keep COVID-19 out of our schools,” Auman said. “We have also been working to keep regular testing moving with our hospital partners.”
After calling Ogle County a COVID-19 hot spot and noting residents being less cooperative on May 6, Auman was happy to report lower numbers Tuesday.
“We’re really starting to see positive results,” Auman said. “A lot of which we believe are due to vaccinations.”
