(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Illinois Department of Public Health is making a new appeal for children 12 and older to get vaccinated, after an outbreak of COVID-19 at a church summer camp.
The Schuyler County Health Department said at the Crossing Camp in Rushville, nearly 60 people, including campers and staff, tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month.
At least one person had to be hospitalized.
IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said even though all the campers were old enough to get vaccinated, only a handful of them had gotten their shots. Similarly, few staffers had gotten vaccinated.
She said this is an example of what happens in places where not enough people are vaccinated, especially children.
Illinois is seeing the growing spread of more contagious and dangerous variants of COVID-19, largely among people who are not vaccinated, Ezike said.
Rushville is about 55 miles northwest of Springfield.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram