Category: Health

State mask mandate of schools draws mixed reactions

By Peter Hancock A capacity crowd packed into the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)) room Wednesday, Aug. 18 and many more stood outside the building in Springfield to protest the State’s new indoor mask mandate in all public and nonpublic schools. “I’m so tired of hearing how resilient our

Reader’s Voice: Applause for students’ wearing masks

August 13, 2021Dear editor; Thank you Shaw Media’s Shea Lazansky for focusing on the pro-mask attitudes of our high school students during the School District 308 Board meeting August 9 (Ledger, August 12). These students stressed the importance of wearing masks to protect themselves, their friends and family, while many

Reader’s Voice: Science: Vaccines best weapons

August 6, 2021Dear editor; Although now retired from a successful career in scientific research, I remain a scientist. I believe in science and all those who have contributed their scientific expertise in an effort to address and eliminate this COVID-19 pandemic which is upon us. Based upon the conclusions and

Reader’s Commentary: U.S. government proven not to be trusted: A response

By Bela “Bill” Suhayda In response to Wayne E. Johnson, July 22 in The Voice, thevoice.us/the-big-time-vaccination-received-instead-of-refused, the big time: Vaccine received, instead of refused: Americans have felt free to decide what they should or should not put into their bodies, until very recent history. We’ve assumed government respected our autonomy

Just a thought on the debate of COVID-19 vaccination

Trying to have a civil discourse with some proponents of vaccination is an exasperating exercise in futility. They delight in using name-calling as part of their “argument,” castigating opponents’ mental health, sense of morality, political affiliation, I.Q. level, and/or sexual orientation. What most pro-vaxxers fail to realize is that the

Pregnancy advice, information, support, at Aurora Public Library District August 17

Being an expectant parent is difficult, especially if you have limited access to avenues of support. One way expectant parents can navigate the challenges of expectant parenthood is to hire a doula, a “person trained to provide advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a [birthing person] before, during,

Delta variant’s surge continues in the State

By Jerry Nowicki Hospitalizations for COVID-19 jumped by more than 13% from Sunday to Monday night while intensive care bed usage jumped 15% as the Delta Variant of the Virus continued to cause a surge nationwide. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, 1,107 individuals with COVID-19-like illness were

Kane County Health Department vaccine in Elgin

The Kane County Health Department (KCHD), in partnership with Illinois Department of Public Health, will provide COVID vaccines at upcoming community COVID vaccination clinics. • Thursday, Aug. 5, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Food for Greater Elgin Vaccination Event, 1553 Commerce Drive, Elgin. • Saturday, Aug. 7, 9

Naperville, masks for government buildings

After consulting with health authorities and reviewing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) latest masking guidance, the city government of Naperville will reinstate the use of face coverings for all visitors to government buildings which was set to begin Tuesday, Aug. 3. Participants in board and Commission meetings,

Greater access to mental health services will start next year

By Peter Hancock Illinois residents will soon have greater access to mental health services under measures Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law Friday. Starting January 1, most insurance companies doing business in Illinois will be required to provide their beneficiaries with timely and proximate access to treatment for mental, emotional,

Kane County Health Department volunteers receive recognition

The Kane County Health Department (KCHD) recognized its active volunteers of the Kane County Medical Reserve Corps (KCMRC) at a special event in East Dundee Saturday evening, July 24. “Our volunteers have always demonstrated a high level of commitment since the inception of the KCMRC,” said Claudia Reginato, former coordinator

Kane Health Department to give COVID vaccines

The Kane County Health Department (KCHD), in partnership with Illinois Department of Public Health, will provide COVID vaccines at several community COVID vaccination clinics this week. • Friday, July 23, noon to 4 p.m., Fisher Nuts, 1703 N. Randall Road, Elgin. Registration: prism.org/fishernuts • Saturday, July 24, 10 a.m. to