Hope/caution. We are thinking about using this tagline for pandemic reports in the coming months: “There’s light at the end of the tunnel, but we’re not out of the woods.” It’s two cliches in one mixed metaphor, but with everything we’re dealing with now, we figure such abuses of good taste in writing are the least of our worries.
Also, the sentence aptly describes the moment. Two vaccines have now been approved for emergency use, the ones produced by Pfizer and Moderna. The first shipments arrived in our area in December. Vaccination of health care workers and residents and staff of long-term care facilities has begun. That’s the light.
On the other hand, while the fall surge peaked several weeks ago, cases and infection rates remain high, much higher than during the spring surge that closed schools and businesses and resulted in a general stay-at-home order. And the vaccination rollout has been much slower than federal officials had promised. That’s the dark woods we’re still in.
Recent milestones. On Thursday, Illinois surpassed 1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19. On Wednesday, the state’s death toll topped 17,000.
“In a pandemic that has contained far too many tragic milestones, today’s marking of one million cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in Illinois deserves particular recognition,” said Governor J.B. Pritzker. “Now that vaccine distribution has begun, we can see the light at the end of this difficult time – let’s do everything we can to ensure all of our neighbors are able to be there as we cross that finish line, healthy as well. With that goal in mind, I encourage all Illinoisans to choose to receive the protections of the COVID-19 vaccine when it’s your turn in line.”
Locally, Homewood topped 1,000 cases on Dec. 11 and as of Thursday had 1,244 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Flossmoor surpassed 500 cases on Dec. 14 and current has recorded 575.
Deaths remained stabled in H-F for much of the summer and fall, but more lives have been lost in recent weeks. The death toll in Homewood as of Wednesday was 45, and in Flossmoor it was 13.
Mask mandate extended. The requirement that Illinoisans wear face coverings when in public expired Jan. 3, but on Jan. 4 an extension was issued that will be in effect for 150 days. Notably, health experts say masks will remain important for public safety and health while vaccination continues, even for those who have received the vaccine.