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Update from the Capitol: Coronavirus testing site in Pontiac

Tuesday, September 08, 2020 - Posted 2:28:41 PM by Rep. Tom Bennett

Tom Bennett
ABOUT DISTRICT CONTACT

Drive-thru coronavirus testing site open in Pontiac

driveup_testing_1_(1).pngA drive-thru coronavirus testing site has opened at the OSF Saint James - John W. Albrecht Medical Center parking lot on Route 116 just west of Pontiac. From 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. each weekday local residents can drive up and get tested for coronavirus. The testing is provided by OSF and the Livingston County Health Department. Capacity is limited, so the health department is strongly recommending that you call ahead for an appointment. That number is (815) 844-7174, extension 210.

"There are no requirements and all testing is at no charge to the client," according to a statement from the health department. "Insurance will be billed, if available."

Roanoke_Food_Bank.jpgDonating another pay raise

Last year I pledged that I would not keep the pay raise which was given to legislators, donating it instead to a local nonprofit serving people here in the 106th District. This month I donated my raise to the Roanoke Food Pantry. Greg Funk and his team there have been working hard to meet the needs of the community which has been hit not only by the coronavirus but also by severe flooding over the summer. The spirit of neighbors-helping-neighbors is alive and well in Roanoke thanks to people like Greg and the staff at the food pantry.

Join our discussion of colleges re-opening amidst coronavirus

Please join Eureka President, Dr. Jamel SC Wright and me to learn more about Eureka College, its plans for reopening this fall and the many opportunities that Eureka offers to today's students. To see the conversation, please click here.

29 counties placed in warning status at end of last week

Once again a large number of Illinois counties have reached a warning level for coronavirus spread. At the end of last week the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that 29 Illinois counties, from one end of the state to the other, had seen enough coronavirus spread to be placed in a warning category. None of the warned counties are in our district, but neighboring McLean County was among them. The warning is issued when a county reports increases in two or more of the coronavirus indicators measured by IDPH.

IDPH continues to warn against large gatherings such as parties and has cited these events as being among those places most likely to lead to the spread of the disease. Read the full IDPH statement here.

More news from around the state

1381 new coronavirus cases in Illinois, eight more deaths

Illinois Department of Transportation looking to hire snowplow drivers

State officials urge residents to fill out Census as deadline approaches

For additional helpful resources, click here.

For continually updated news from state agencies, visit: coronavirus.illinois.gov or my website at repbennett.com and click on COVID-19 Info. Persons with coronavirus questions or concerns should call the statewide toll-free coronavirus hotline at 1-800-889-3931. You can also submit questions via e-mail at dph.sick@illinois.gov.

My district offices remain closed to in-person visits, but are still accessible by phone at (815) 432-0106 (Watseka) and (815) 844-9179 (Pontiac).


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