Monday began with announcements related to COVID-19 in Iowa and Illinois, from the arrival of the vaccine to the relief of small businesses.

UI Health Care begins vaccination of first employees against COVID-19

The University of Iowa Health Care was the first in the state to begin vaccinating its employees with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Monday.

The vaccine was approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday, and is being prioritized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for health workers and residents of long-term care facilities duration, a press release said.

Health workers have been identified nationally and by the state as being among the first to be vaccinated.

UI Health Care has prepared for months for the unique storage and administration details needed for the vaccine and is one of six healthcare sites in Iowa to receive the first limited number of doses of the State.

“We are proud to have participated in the Pfizer-BioNTech clinical trial here at UI Health Care,” said Brooks Jackson, MD, MBA, vice president of medical affairs at the University of Iowa and the Dean Tyrone D. Artz of IU Carver College of Medicine. “We believe this vaccine is safe and will be effective in preventing COVID-19.

“Although the vaccine supply is initially limited, we will be offering the COVID-19 vaccine to all UI Medicare employees who would like to receive it,” Jackson said.

For more information visit uihc.org

Vaccine arrives in Illinois, Iowa

The state of Illinois received the first shipment of Pfizer COVID0-19 vaccine to the Illinois National Strategic Stock (SNS) on Monday.

The state received around 43,000 doses in the first shipment and expects additional shipments in the coming weeks, a press release said. The majority of the doses in the shipment will be delivered from the SNS to coordination centers in regional hospitals across the state which will serve as collection points for local health departments to begin distribution to health workers in their jurisdictions, the remaining portion going directly to predetermined. Local Health Services.

Chicago received a direct shipment from the federal government. Four other local state health departments will also receive direct shipments from the federal government later this week: the Cook County Public Health Department, Lake County Health Department and the Community Health Center, Madison County Department of Health; and St. Clair County Department of Health. These direct shipments represent the initial state planned allocation of 100,000 doses.

“Today marks a momentous occasion – not just this year, but in American history. Eleven months after scientists around the world got their hands on the genetic sequence of this virus – and we see the beginning of the end of this pandemic, ”said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.

“I want to express my gratitude not only to the researchers who fueled this moment, but also to all the truck drivers, pilots, logistics specialists, warehouse operations managers and law enforcement officers who have passed through. these last days and weeks of deploying the greatest national mission in a generation. May we all take a moment to feel hope today. ”

Iowa returns $ 21 million to Coronavirus Relief Fund

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered the Iowa Department of Management to return $ 21 million to the Iowa Coronavirus Relief Fund.

The funds were initially allocated for payments related to the state’s contract with Workday, a cloud-based human resources, finance and planning system implemented to modernize the state’s IT infrastructure, says a Press release. Of the allocation, $ 4.45 million was spent on the project.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has only further heightened the critical need for integrated computer systems that will improve operational efficiency and effectiveness in the state of Iowa,” said Reynolds. “Based on multiple conversations with the Treasury Department last spring, we felt we were confident that the upgrade to Workday was an eligible expense. We would not have advanced without these assurances. ”

The Treasury Department OIG confirmed its determination that payments for Workday were not eligible expenses under the CARES Act. While the state still maintains its position that these are allowable expenses, it respects the ruling and will return the funds by Friday, the statement said.

Replacing the state’s obsolete IT systems remains a critical need and has received overwhelming bipartisan support from lawmakers and elected officials. As such, the Workday implementation will continue as planned. The estimated costs and timelines for the project have not changed. Additional funding will be required to support completion.

Iowa received a total allocation of $ 1.25 billion from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the federal Coronavirus Assistance, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES). The $ 4.45 million spent on Workday is only 0.36% of total funds, while over 96% went to programs that provided direct assistance to Iowans:

• More … than $ 76 million to support Iowa families
• More than $ 126 million to support small businesses and not-for-profit organizations
• More … than $ 110 million to support Iowa farmers and producers
• $ 125 million to support communities in Iowa
• Almost $ 112 million to support Iowa health care providers
• $ 490m for the Unemployment Trust Fund, creating tax relief for 40,766 employers
• $ 35 million for broadband expansion grants
• $ 127 million for COVID-19 operations

The state will allocate the remaining $ 47.3 million by the Dec. 30 deadline, but a federal government extension would allow time to use the funds to create additional programs and meet other needs of the Iowans.

Free driving COVID-19 test

The free COVID-19 drive-through test will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Northland Mall parking lot East, (former JC Penney,) 2900 E. Lincolnway, Sterling, Ill.

Participants are urged not to call the Whiteside County Department of Health for the results. The state of Illinois will call in four to seven days with results.

Moline helps small businesses

The town of Moline has launched the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program to help small businesses that have been adversely affected by COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program will use approximately $ 110,000 in community development block grant funds under the CARES Act to provide much-needed capital to small businesses to maintain jobs and stabilize businesses Moline, says a press release.
Support will be provided to eligible businesses in the form of a forgiveness loan. The loan will be
forgiven in six months as long as certain conditions are met.

The “forgiveness” characteristic of loans is based on the ability of the small business borrower to keep the jobs held by low- or moderate-income people (full-time equivalent), i.e. less than 80% of the area’s median annual income (AM).

In Moline, the annual MAI for a single person is $ 42,250. The maximum forgivable loan is $ 5,000 per business. By the time the funds are released, the company must meet and maintain the federal CDBG national target of 51% or more of the workforce in a low to middle income household.

Completed applications can be sent out now until 5 p.m. on January 4. Applicants can submit their application on the City’s FORWARD platform at https://forward.livestories.com/login, the city’s website, www.moline.il.us, sent by email to [email protected] or by post (postmarked by January 4 to the town of Moline, Department of Community and Economic Development, CDBG COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program, 619 16 St., Moline, IL 61265.

Applications will be screened on a “first-in” basis by a selection committee to verify accuracy and compliance with program criteria.