By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Winnebago County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli has declared a local disaster for seven days starting Wednesday in response to the rising number of coronavirus cases.
The declaration, which will require approval from the County Board tonight, can help the county get access to state and federal resources to fight the spread of the coronavirus.
The declaration comes after an increase in the number of COVID patients treated at Rockford hosptials. Chiarelli, who is fully vaccinated, is recovering after his own hospital stay from coronavirus.
“My experience being hospitalized with COVID identified a need for not only prevention, but
intervention, and I want to advocate for additional treatment options to be readily available to
Winnebago County residents,” Chiarelli said in a news release.
Those options could include expanded offering of monoclonal antibodies, a first line treatment to help prevent serious illness in those at risk of hospitalization from COVID. It could also include additional consultation in-person at various testing sites in Winnebago County and via phone after a positive test result.
The proclamation does not reinstate any type of business restrictions or mandate vaccinations or other treatments.
There have been nearly 49,400 cases of the coronavirus in Winnebago County and 605 deaths from the virus, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.