Will County has reached the Severe Risk level for daily COVID infections and positive test rates, according to county health officials. The most recent figures show the rate of new cases at 192 per 100 thousand population (total population 690,000), with a positive test rate of 22%. The vaccination rate remains at just over 70% of all residents with 1 dose or more of COVID vaccine. Hospitalizations, cases and deaths have experienced a sudden spike over the past 30 days after a slight decrease.
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Posted inTimes Weekly News
Enjoy Thanksgiving safely Minimize the risk of a holiday spike
Families in surrounding suburbs will gather to enjoy the Thanksgiving feast and give thanks for all that they have – most of all each other. While the impact of the pandemic has been greatly reduced as more people and now children get vaccinated, there are still risks of spreading the virus. Health experts warn the holiday gatherings could be breeding grounds for spreading the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the best way to minimize COVID-19 risk and keep family and friends safer is to get vaccinated. Many health experts this year also suggest if unvaccinated family and friends plan to attend holiday gatherings, they should get a rapid COVID test just before they show up. Here are some safe ways to celebrate the holidays from the CDC.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Local woman and her journey help bring awareness to breast cancer
October, which is breast cancer awareness month, is always a time marked by reflection for Kendra Coleman, who was diagnosed a decade ago in the same month. But as she looks back on her diagnosis this year, she also is looking toward the future and ways to inspire others with her story. “I work every day to try to be an inspiration to someone else, to let my story help them or at least be encouragement to help with prevention,” said Coleman, a lifelong Joliet resident. After funding a lump in her breast in 2011, she had surgery to remove the cancer and has taken a medication called tamoxifen to treat the disease. Since her diagnosis, she’s been a staunch advocate of breast cancer awareness, hoping individuals can take valuable lessons from what she’s been through, she said. “It is preventable, there are possibilities for early detection, so it doesn’t spread, so I’ve taken my diagnosis as an opportunity to spread the word and educate people,” she said of the disease, which kills more than 1,600 people per day in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). To reduce the risk of the disease, individuals should lead a physically active lifestyle and maintain a healthy weight.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Life vs. Liquor: The average Illinoisan would give up three years of their life to keep drinking alcohol, survey reveals
• One-third would give up caffeine for life, if they can continue drinking alcohol.
• 30% admit they ignore studies warning about alcohol health risks.
TTW Press room
Science and Sobriety: There are many behaviors and habits we’ve developed and continue despite studies having proven that they have adverse health complications – from smoking cigarettes and drinking too much coffee, to the overconsumption of processed food and skimping on exercise. A recent major study found that drinking any amount of alcohol has a negative impact on the brain and is linked to increased risk of developing more cancers than previously thought. However, many people continue to drink despite knowing that it could take years off their lives as evidenced by a recent 3,700-person survey conducted by Alcohol.org a leading provider of alcohol addiction treatment resources.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Boys & Girls Club, Joliet receives new WiFi-Connected “Lift Zone” from Comcast
TTW Pressroom Comcast launched this week a new WiFi-connected “Lift Zone” at the G.W. Buck Boys & Girls Club of Joliet (GWBBGC) located at 226 E. Clinton St. Lift Zones are safe spaces where children can get online to do schoolwork and adults can get online to learn new digital skills, search for employment and access an array of services. The COVID-19 crisis put many low-income students and families at risk of being left behind and accelerated the need for comprehensive digital equity and Internet adoption programs to support them. The Lift Zones are part of a larger multiyear plan by Comcast to support community-organization-based WiFi at more than 1,000 Lift Zones throughout the country – including in the Chicago area.
