Shipments of vaccine doses have been delayed in Chicago, across Illinois and around the country due to severe weather conditions, officials say.
Meanwhile, Chicago and suburban Cook County are again increasing indoor dining capacity at restaurants and bars.
Here are the latest COVID headlines from around the state:
Winter Weather Causing Delays in Federal COVID Vaccine Delivery in Illinois
The federal government said Tuesday that shipping delays are expected across the country, including in Illinois, as winter weather wreaks havoc on several states.
According to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office, “the federal government has notified all states of COVID-19 vaccine delivery delays across the entire country due to adverse weather and road conditions.”
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Operation Warp Speed deliveries slated for Tuesday would be “significantly impacted” as adverse weather impacted operations at facilities where “vaccines and ancillary supply kits originate.”
The departments warned that delays could continue throughout the week.
“To help offset delayed vaccine deliveries, the state of Illinois proactively ordered vaccine to be delivered to its Strategic National Stockpile Receipt, Store, and Stage site in anticipation of adverse weather,” Pritzker’s office said in a release. “Illinois is distributing that vaccine to many providers around the state today and tomorrow, as weather permits, to continue to support vaccination operations.”
More Than 100 Providers Didn’t Get COVID Vaccine Shipments in Chicago as Snowstorm Sparks Delays
The winter storm that dumped more than a foot of snow across much of the Chicago area this week has led to a delay in vaccine shipments to the city, leaving more than 100 providers without their expected shipments, officials said Tuesday.
Already, city-run testing and vaccinations sites were closed Tuesday following the massive snowstorm.
“The inclement weather in the Midwest has also led to a delay of vaccine shipments coming into Chicago over the upcoming days,” the Chicago Department of Public Health said in a release. “While there is currently no estimated time of arrival on the orders, we anticipate daily updates from CDC. All COVID shipments are requested as overnight shipping so we expect vaccine shipments and supply with catch up quickly.”
Officials noted that deliveries from Chicago’s allocation to vaccine providers will also be delayed due to the travel impacts from the storm. Officials urged anyone with appointments at private healthcare centers to contact their providers and check on the status of their appointments.
“The city is assessing the overall impact from the storm and will make further decisions regarding testing and vaccine operations on a day-to-day,” CDPH stated.
CDPH Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said the city usually receives its weekly shipments on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. But with Monday being a federal holiday, followed by a dangerous winter snowstorm, “we didn’t get the vaccine we were expected.”
“There’s more than 100 providers that didn’t get their vaccine like we were hoping today,” Arwady said in a Facebook Live video Tuesday. “We just need to wait for that vaccine to get here.”
She added that she’s hopeful the shipments will arrive in the next days or two. Arwady said the city’s POD vaccination sites were rescheduling appointments due to closures from the storm as well as the shipping delays. As for other providers, Arwady said many will also be rescheduling patients.
Chicago Again Increases Indoor Dining Capacity After Hitting 4 Coronavirus Metrics
Chicago is again increasing indoor dining capacity at restaurants and bars after the city reached the threshold in multiple COVID-19 metrics that officials laid out in a framework to ease some restrictions earlier this month.
City officials announced Tuesday that, effective immediately, restaurants, bars and…
Read More: Vaccine Shipment Delays, Chicago and Cook County Indoor Dining – NBC Chicago