COVID-19

The City of Peoria received $47 million from President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, a COVID-19 relief package passed in March.

New COVID-19 vaccinations in the Tri-County over the past week fell by about 24% from the previous seven-day period, but remained higher than two weeks ago.

Dr. Malini Chavali is an internist with OSF Medical Group. She came to Peoria 25 years ago after attending medical school in her native India, and still has several family members still in India. Chavali recently spoke with WCBU reporter Joe Deacon about the heavy toll COVID-19 has had on India.

As Illinois enters Phase 5 of the COVID-19 reopening, economic leaders say the Peoria area is poised for a big rebound.

Tri-County public health officials on Friday reported 20 patients were admitted to Peoria-area hospitals for COVID-19, the lowest number in almost a full year as Illinois enters Phase 5 of Gov. JB Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan.

As the hospitality industry in the Peoria area begins to bounce back with relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, more residents are taking to the town; but behind the scenes, many employees are still working to shake the effects of pandemic-induced furloughs.

Businesses, festivals and conventions may operate at pre-pandemic numbers soon. The Peoria City/County Health Department confirmed during Thursday's briefing that Peoria will be headed into Phase 5 starting June 11.

Canceling $10 million in planned borrowing to balance the 2021 budget and ending furloughs for some city employees are among the possible uses the City of Peoria may consider for $47 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding.

By continuing daily stories that report low numbers, we run the risk of turning COVID data into background noise that is easily ignored.

Peoria County has been removed from the Illinois Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 risk warning list, as the Tri-County’s pandemic figures continue to improve.

Tri-County health officials on Wednesday reported no new deaths linked to COVID-19 for a second consecutive day, marking the first time with no fatalities on back-to-back days since a four-day period from April 6-9.

A continued slowing trend for COVID-19 in the Tri-County area produced just 40 new cases and no new deaths in the past day, while hospitalizations in the region dipped back below 50 and active cases moved under 300.