
First-person account of my travel experience during Coronavirus
Yashovardhan Maheshwari shares his travel story to India during spring break amidst uncertainty from the University of Illinois and air travel policies.
Yashovardhan Maheshwari shares his travel story to India during spring break amidst uncertainty from the University of Illinois and air travel policies.
At a time when nursing homes nationally are facing outbreaks of coronavirus, a review of federal inspection data reveals that more than half of nursing homes in Illinois were cited for deficiencies in infection prevention and control in 2019. The review of the federal data on Illinois nursing homes by CU-CitizenAccess and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting found that 396 of about 720 active nursing homes that are Medicare & Medicaid certified have been cited for deficiencies in infection prevention and control in 2019. The reports showed that nursing homes did not have adequate measures to “provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.” "Infection control practices are vitally important for long-term care facilities at all times, but especially now as we are facing a national emergency fighting COVID-19," said Kelly Richards the Illinois State Long Term Care Ombudsman, "It is imperative that all facilities follow infection control guidance issued by the CDC and the IL Dept. of Public Health." Infection prevention programs at nursing homes have come under scrutiny since the start of the COVID19 outbreak, as residents and staff members from numerous facilities have tested positive and died. According to the Illinois Public Health Department, 213 Illinois long term care facilities have COVID cases, as of April 8. Illinois has 773 cases associated with long-term care facilities (including assisted living), which includes patients and staff, the department said.
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District started preparing for the coronavirus outbreak in January of this year, but no testing for the disease locally began…
Despite sharp spikes in population, such as a population of 173 on March 24, the number has stayed below the 2019 daily average since safety precautions began earlier this month. As of March 27, the number had fallen back to 157 people — with 11 serving prison sentences, 128 awaiting trial and the rest on Electronic Home Detention. “We have taken steps to encourage officers to not bring in inmates if they don't need to and have also been working with the State's Attorney's office to identify inmates who don't pose a safety risk who can be released from jail,” Sheriff Dustin Heuerman wrote in an email to CU-CitizenAccess.org.
The Small Business Administration has opened application for low-interest disaster loans for small businesses in Illinois. It is offering webinars on the program and how to apply.