October 07, 2021

Duckworth Discusses Continuing Impact of COVID-19 on Hospitals and Healthcare Workers in Southern Illinois with Heartland Regional Medical Center

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday spoke with Heartland Regional Medical Center CEO Ed Cunningham for an update on the impacts of COVID-19 on the medical center and throughout the region. Southern Illinois has been hit especially hard by the most recent COVID surge, leading to zero percent ICU availability last month.

“After more than a year and a half of living with the reality of COVID-19, our hospitals and healthcare workers are still working tirelessly to keep our communities safe,” Duckworth said. “Getting vaccinated if we’re able and continuing to wear masks indoors is how we can protect ourselves and others and make it to the other side of this pandemic. I’ll keep doing all I can to bring the federal support needed for our hospitals, health systems and healthcare workers in Illinois.”

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Duckworth has helped bring millions in federal funding to Illinois hospitals and health systems, including more than $10 million for hospitals in Illinois and more than $100 million of Illinois community health centers and health workforce through the American Rescue Plan.

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