The DuPage County Health Department and the State of Illinois made several important announcements regarding Covid-19 vaccine availability in Wheaton, new groups that will soon be eligible for vaccines, and the state’s next steps toward its Restore Illinois reopening plan.
Community Vaccine Clinic Expansion in Wheaton
Through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Public Health, the DuPage County Health Department announced today that it will be able to provide an increased vaccine supply for DuPage County residents at the DCHD Covid-19 Community Vaccine Clinic in Wheaton at the DuPage County Fairgrounds. DuPage County has been able to secure a separate allocation of vaccine doses for this clinic through a new agreement with the State of Illinois, meaning it will be able to greatly expand the number of doses available to local residents.
The clinic is able to administer more than 1,000 vaccines per day, and this new supply will allow it to be able to operate at capacity. Please note that vaccinations will continue to be available by appointment only. You can register at www.dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccine. As of March 22, the clinic plans to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. If you or someone you know need help registering for the COVID-19 vaccine, call the Health Department at 630-682-7400 and a representative will assist you.
New Groups Soon Eligible for Vaccines
The State of Illinois also made several announcements about groups that will soon become eligible for vaccinations in Illinois.
- Currently eligible in Illinois: Frontline essential workers, seniors and people with high-risk conditions
- March 22: Eligibility will begin for higher education staff, government workers and media
- March 29: Eligibility will begin for food & beverage workers; construction trade workers and religious leaders
- April 12: Eligibility will begin for all Illinois residents age 16 and older.
The City of Wheaton and the DuPage County Health Department encourage you to register with DuPage County Health Department, as well as registering with local pharmacies and your physician.
Progress Toward Reopening
The State of Illinois also announced new steps toward its Restore Illinois Plan to reopen our state. We are currently in Phase 4, and the state announced a new “Bridge to Phase 5,” which removes certain restrictions currently in place. Illinois will move to this bridge phase once Illinois reaches 70% of its seniors age 65+ vaccinated. As of March 18, approximately 58% of Illinois residents age 65+ have been vaccinated.
Bridge to Phase 5 will allow for higher capacity limits and increased business operations, including:
- Dining: maintains at least 6 feet between tables and parties of 10 or less, but increases indoor capacity to 30% indoors and 50% outdoors
- Health and fitness, offices, personal care, retail/service counter: Increase from 50% capacity to 60% capacity
- Amusement parks: increase from 25% to 60% capacity
- Festivals and general admission outdoor spectator events: increase from 15 to 30 people per 1,000 square feet
- Meetings/conferences/conventions: Increases to lesser of 1,000 people or 60% capacity (previously dependent on venue capacity)
- Museums: increase from 25% capacity to 60% capacity
- Recreation: Indoor, increase to lesser of 100 people or 50% capacity; Outdoor, maximum groups of 100, multiple groups permissible
- Social events: Indoor up to 250 people; Outdoor up to 500 people
- Theaters/performing arts: increase to 60% capacity
- Zoos: increase to 60% capacity
For full information on the Bridge to Phase 5, see the State of Illinois Covid-19 website.