New COVID-19 update from the Chief Judge's Office; shocking nursing home numbers

The Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County announced yesterday that five more employees of that office and a judge have tested positive for COVID-19.

The Chief Judge's Office did not identify the afflicted jurist but said the judge in question works at the Daley Center.

Of the five employees reporting positive COVID-19 test results, one works as an administrative employee at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, another works for the Adult Probation Department in the Bridgeview Courthouse, and the other three all work for the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.

If you're keeping score at home (or back in the office), a total of 337 employees "working under the auspices of the Office of the Chief Judge have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, out of a total of about 2,600 employees. Also, 22 judges have tested positive, out of a total of about 380 judges, as well as 102 JTDC residents," according to the statement from the Chief Judge's Office.

Meanwhile, WBBM Newsradio reported this morning about a Rogers Park nursing home, Chalet Living and Rehab, at 7350 N. Sheridan, where, according figures released by the Illinois Department of Public Health, only 63.98% of the residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and only 5% of the staff have received their shots. Both of those numbers are nothing short of appalling.

The linked radio report also singled out Symphony of Chicago West, 5130 W. Jackson Blvd., where, again according to the IDPH figures, only 70.13% of the residents are vaccinated and only 20.13% of the staff.

Statewide, according to a national survey by AARP only 56.4% of health care staff have been vaccinated (as of June 20).

The IDPH Long Term Care COVID-19 Facility Level Data page is searchable, and some random searches conducted this morning suggested that most nursing homes are doing much better than the two singled out by WBBM -- some are above 90% for both residents and staff -- and, yet, over half a year after vaccines were made available to our highest risk residents and their caregivers, isn't it shocking to discover that not all long-term care facilities are above 90% compliance?