East Central Reporter

As of Sept. 28, at least 19 African American residents of Richland County tested positive for the coronavirus, according to numbers being reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Illinois was home to some of the first reported COVID-19 cases in the US. It has suffered numerous waves of the pandemic, which peaked in the fall of 2020. As the Midwestern hub of the US, Illinois businesses suffered greatly, including layoffs at two major airlines based in the state.