ROCKFORD (WREX) — Illinois Governor JB Pritzker made a stop in Rockford Friday to check out the COVID-19 vaccination site at Auburn High School.
Dr. Sandra Martell, the Public Administrator with the Winnebago County Health Department, led the governor’s tour.
RELATED: Check out 13 WREX’s new coronavirus vaccine resources page
The governor’s tour comes one day after the state set another one-day record for vaccinations given with 74,965 doses administered.
The governor said the state’s top priority is continuing to expand vaccination sites so more people can get the vaccine.
“We’ll continue to work to get more vaccinations in more arms—especially the most vulnerable population,” Gov. Pritzker said.
The state added 80 more vaccination sites on Thursday, according to Gov. Pritzker. The governor also announced the Illinois National Guard will be coming to Winnebago County in the next few weeks to help administer vaccines.
As the state continues its efforts to get everyone vaccinated, the governor says there’s still an issue at hand.
“But remember, there isn’t enough vaccine being delivered to us by the vaccine manufacturers who are providing it right now,” Gov. Pritzker said. “In Illinois, they’re not delivering it. In other states in the country they’re not delivering enough to vaccinate everyone in Phase 1B even.”
Because of the lack of supply, the governor said it will be “a number of weeks” for all of those who are currently eligible in Phase 1B to receive the vaccine.
READ MORE: Dr. Martell: Health officials still working on vaccinating those in Phase 1B
Despite the lack of supply, the governor says Illinois currently ranks 6th in the nation in administering vaccine doses and daily doses. A total of 1,231,418 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight, including 188,351 for long-term care facilities. The 7-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 49,082 doses.
RELATED: Every region now in Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan; here’s what’s needed to move to Phase 5
The governor’s visit on Friday comes as the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,660 new confirmed and probable cases of the coronavirus disease along with 83 more deaths.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,141,219 cases and 19,526 deaths since the pandemic started.
The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from January 29–February 4, 2021 is 4.3%.
In Region 1, the seven-day rolling positivity rate dropped to 4.2%.
Coronavirus Resources
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- Track the COVID-19 globally using this map tracker here.
- Click here for the latest information from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
- Need to get tested? Here’s a list of mobile testing sites provided by the state.
- Looking for more information on the COVID-19 vaccine? Click here.
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