Will County moves to sixth most vaccinated county in the State
The Will County Executive and Will County Health Department (WCHD) today announced that in the past six weeks, Will County has tripled the number of fully vaccinated individuals from 7.10 percent on March 9 to 25.36 percent on April 23 – moving the county to the sixth most vaccinated county in Illinois, up from 90th in the same time period.
Residents urged to schedule vaccine and practice COVID-19 safety as Will County COVID-19 cases rise in past two weeks.
Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and Will County Health Department Executive Director Sue Olenek announced today that the health department will move to open scheduling on Monday, April 12, as Will County moves to universal eligibility for individuals 16 and older.
Will serve residents age 65+, First Responders, Teachers in Wilmington and Monee to win battle against COVID-19
The Will County Executive Office and Will County Health Department today announced another milestone in beating the COVID-19 virus by opening Community Vaccination Clinics in Wilmington beginning the week of March 22 and Monee beginning the week of March 29.
Program to prioritize businesses in areas impacted most by COVID-19
Building on the success of its recently completed small business grant program, Will County has taken steps to begin creating another program designed to provide financial assistance for small businesses.
The Will County Board approved the move during a special meeting on Friday, Feb. 26.
Nearly 100,000 seniors anxious to receive the vaccine, county only receiving shipments in 2,000 doses increments.
Calls to the Will County Health Department COVID-19 hotline are topping more than 800 per day, some days reaching 1,000 calls per day, which is overwhelming the current system as residents in the 1b category, 65+, are trying to schedule appointments for the vaccines.
Allows for larger groups for indoor dining and recreation facilities
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that effective today Region 7, which includes Will County, is moving to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan.
Will County has developed a vaccination program which utilizes a collaborative partnership between the county Health Department and over 40 different providers including local hospitals, EMS providers, pharmacies and other healthcare providers.
Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant is announcing new protocols for public access to the County Office Building on 302 N. Chicago Street in Joliet. The protocols will be following strict CDC guidelines to ensure the safety of both the public and county employees. Bertino-Tarrant strongly encourages residents to call and schedule an appointment prior to traveling to the building.
“Our goal is to have safe, effective procedures to protect the public and our employees while maintaining high quality services for all who live, work, or do business in Will County,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “We sincerely appreciate everyone’s patience as we move through the necessary COVID-19 protocols to make our building accessible to the public.”
Some offices within Will County government are re-opening and others are observing alternate business operations. Everyone is encouraged to call the office before planning a visit.
Please continue to observe the three W's:
Wear a mask.
Wash your hands.
Watch your distance.
When former Will County Executive Larry Walsh announced he would not seek reelection in 2020, it would be the first time in 16 years someone new would hold the position.
After all the ballots were counted, it would also be the first time a woman was elected to the office.
“When the late Larry Walsh Sr. said he was not going to run again, I knew it was an opportunity for me to come home and be able to focus on my community where I’ve been all my life,” said Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, who was sworn in to the executive position in December.
Health Department survey important to planning for future vaccine clinics
With the COVID-19 vaccine being rolled out to more sectors of the population on almost a weekly basis, the Will County Health Department has set up an online registration portal and encourages residents to logon, take the survey, and register for future vaccine clinics.
Extends annual license deadline to March 1 and September 1
As COVID-19 restrictions continue to put additional burdens on local restaurant and bar owners, the Will County Board voted to amend its liquor license ordinance to extend the renewal fee due dates to March 1, 2021 and September 1, 2021. The current deadlines for renewal fees are January 1 and July 1. This change only applies to liquor licenses issued in the unincorporated areas of Will County.
Will County residents behind on rent or mortgage because of the impact of COVID-19 have a consortium of local agencies to apply to for payment assistance.
More than 4,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine provided to Will County
Today, the county received more than 4,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, recently authorized for distribution by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The State of Illinois is following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) which is breaking up the vaccination process into four phases, focusing on “critical populations” first.
Subcommittee of Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is key to developing comprehensive regional strategies
As the Northeastern region of Illinois began experiencing remarkable growth over the past two decades, local leaders recognized the need for unified area planning to support and manage the effects of this growth in individual counties, as well as the entire region. In 2005, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) committee was formed to create regional strategies to address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and other quality of life issues. A subcommittee, the Council of County Board Chairs, is comprised of county leaders, and regional and local transportation officials and provides a forum to develop these plans cohesively.