With 86% of county deaths occurring in nursing homes, residents now approaching herd immunity in Knox County

Feb. 8—GALESBURG — Lupe Perez, 101, has seen a lot, but one thing she has been lucky enough not to see is a COVID-19 outbreak where she lives at Woodridge Supportive Living. Should she ever come into contact with the coronavirus, she will be ready though.

Perez has already received both vaccinations against COVID-19, first on Jan. 14 and again on Feb. 4. She says she has not had to deal with any side effects.

"I think everyone in this building has been vaccinated," she said.

As nursing homes have been some of the most lethal sites in the battle against COVID-19, they have been federally prioritized in a plan that partners with CVS and Walgreens pharmacies. It appears that these programs have largely made their way into Knox County.

Knox County has so far only fully vaccinated 2.61% of its population, but at county nursing homes administrators say they are nearing herd immunity, thanks to this program.

For nursing homes, it is a chance to move into better days after a fall and early winter that turned Knox County into one of Illinois' harder hit counties in terms of COVID mortality.

The county has had 588 COVID-19 cases and 103 deaths in nursing homes. While these facilities make up only 12 percent the county's 4,840 COVID cases, it makes up 86% of the county's 119 reported deaths.

The Illinois Department of Public Health lists the Knox County Nursing Home twice on its COVID-19 long-term care facility outbreak database. One listing lists them as having 83 cases and 20 deaths. A second lists them as having 30 cases and 2 deaths.

They were one of the first nursing homes in the county to have COVID-19 cases, and have suffered numerous cases and deaths in the months since. Things appear to have made a turn for the better though.

Knox County Nursing Home Administrator Jodi Mines says that the nursing home has been COVID-free since Dec. 11, and second round vaccinations have now come to the majority of residents.

Some 95% of residents have been vaccinated against the coronavirus, as well as about 45-46% of staff. First -time shots were given on Jan. 4, and second rounds were given on Jan. 25.

Vaccinations are also ongoing at Heartland Galesburg Center, where the IDPH says they have had 36 COVID-19 cases, and 14 deaths.

Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications of Heartland's parent company ProMedica Julia Beckert says that vaccinations have begun at Heartland in Galesburg. First round vaccines were given in early January on the week of the 9th at the facility and second vaccines followed three weeks later. There are two more clinics to follow at that site.

She says vaccinations across Heartland's care network are leading to not only decreases in positive cases, but also severe cases in general.

"Where we do have positive cases, they're asymptomatic," she said.

She said across Heartland's various homes across the country, 90% of long term care residents are getting the vaccine.

The IDPH says Serenity of Galesburg has had 103 reported cases, and five deaths, but the facility says it has gone over a month without a positive COVID case. Administrator Scott Widener says in addition that they have now reached herd immunity, with over 80% of residents and staff vaccinated.

That said, the facility is staying under a fair share of restrictions, with residents mostly staying in their room. He says in order for things to open up more for things like visitations, more of the community needs to be involved in the fight against COVID-19.

"Please get out there and get vaccinated," he said when asked what he would tell the public. "That's how we're going to get past this."

At the Marigold, where the IDPH has reported 45 cases and 27 deaths, administrator Ethel Logue says that about 75% of their staff and residents have been vaccinated.

Forty-five staff members and 80 residents have been vaccinated, out of a total of 100 residents and 80 staff members. First day vaccines began on Jan. 9, with a second round on the 30th. More vaccinations will proceed on Feb. 20.

Logue says they have been without COVID cases since the second week of January, and things have improved.

Back at Woodridge, Perez is happy with the way staff have been treating her and others, but in the efforts to keep her and other residents safe, she has not been able to do as many things as she used to as a resident.

The buses that would take residents to town now only can take them to doctor's appointments, and after doctor's appointments they need to quarantine in their rooms.

"I would like to go shopping," she said when asked what activities she misses.

The dining room has opened up again, she says, so residents do not need to eat meals in their rooms, but even then tables are limited to only two people per table, distanced.

The easing of more restrictions may have to wait until more of the county in general has been vaccinated. So far, 7,306 vaccine doses have been administered in Knox County, but so far only 1,309 people, making up 2.61% of the population, have been given both their first and second COVID-19 booster.

Vaccines are also being prioritized for essential workers and those ages 65 and up for the time being. When they do become available either by appointment at Hy-Vee and Walgreens or at open vaccination sites, supply has been unable to meet demand.

Still, some people have resisted getting vaccinated, anxious about side effects or the speed at which the vaccines were given FDA approval. Perez hopes those anxious about receiving the vaccine still do choose to receive it.

"I think it's very important to get one because you can feel a little safer," Perez said. "I think everybody should get one."

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