January 7, 2022
This week we have experienced our highest case numbers since the beginning of the pandemic. The rolling 7-day test positivity rate has climbed to an alarming 21.2 percent. To date, there have been over 158 deaths in DeKalb County attributed to COVID-19.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is continuing to issue changes to guidance on isolation and quarantine and vaccination boosters, there are actions that can be taken now to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and decrease the impact on our hospitals, schools, and business.

DCHD reminds the community that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, widely available, and free.

We are urging the community to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by:
·        Getting vaccinated and boosted when eligible
·        Wearing a face mask when in indoor public settings or crowded outdoor spaces
·        Staying home when sick
·        Seeking monoclonal antibody treatment, if appropriate
·        Washing hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds.

Please visit www.vaccines.gov to find COVID-19 near you and visit https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/testing-sites.html to find a testing site near you.
 
Changes in COVID-19 Data Reporting

The DeKalb County Health Department will be modifying our COVID-19 data reporting structure and frequency moving forward. Beginning next week, we will transition from daily reporting to providing a weekly update via our COVID-19 Data Dashboard on Friday of each week. In addition, we will begin to utilize the data that this already available on the Illinois Department of Public Health’s public facing COVID-19 data website to update our COVID-19 Dashboard.

Our dashboard will be updated on a weekly basis and continue to include:
·        Number of Total Cases
·        Number of Total Deaths
·        Case Counts by Age Group
·        Case Count by Gender
·        DeKalb County 7-Day Positivity
·        Percent of County Fully Vaccinated
·        LTC Outbreak Report

The first weekly update to the dashboard will be on Friday, January 14, 2022.
Isolation and Quarantine Update
CDC has updated isolation and quarantine recommendations for the public. These recommendations do not apply to healthcare personnel and do not supersede state, local, tribal, of territorial laws, rules, and regulations.
 
People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others.
 
Recommendations for people who are exposed to COVID-19 are also updated. If you are unvaccinated or more than 6 months out from your second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and you are not yet boosted, CDC recommends a quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. If a 5-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure.
 
People who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure. For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for COVID-19 at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic on 1/19/22
at the NIU Convocation Center
On January 19th from 9am-4pm we will be offering COVID-19 vaccines (initial series, boosters and pediatric (5-11) at the NIU Convocation Center located at 1547 W Lincoln Hwy in DeKalb. To sign up for an appointment, please click the yellow box below.

All COVID-19 vaccines will be available during this clinic.
(Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J)
Recommendations for Those Who Received a
Pfizer Vaccine
Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
(BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.)
3rd Dose & Booster Vaccine Appointments in DeKalb County
We are now scheduling appointments for individuals eligible for a 3rd dose or booster vaccine. To schedule, please call 815-748-2401.
Individuals eligible for the booster dose or a third dose for those who are immunocompromised can visit www.vaccines.gov and enter your zip code to find a vaccine provider near you. 
 
COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines at
DeKalb County Health Department
County Level COVID-19 Risk Metrics
Weekly COVID-19 Report
Where to Seek Healthcare
COVID-19 Vaccination Card
You will receive a COVID-19 vaccination card after you get your first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The card tells you:

  • Which COVID-19 vaccine you received.
  • The date of your first dose.
  • Where you received it.

If you received a COVID-19 vaccine that requires two doses (Pfizer and Moderna), bring the card to your second appointment so the second dose information can be filled in. 

If you did not receive a vaccination card at your first appointment or have lost your vaccination card, contact the provider that administered the vaccination. If you are unable to contact the provider, there are other ways of obtaining your COVID-19 vaccination record:


After getting vaccinated, keep your card safe. It is best to keep it protected by using a plastic sleeve rather than laminating it. You should not post your vaccination card on social media as it contains personal information.