Cook County’s ‘Dr. Fauci’ shares final COVID-19 update for 2020

The first vaccines for COVID-19 in Cook County were administered this week to local healthcare workers in the community. A total of 90 doses of the vaccine were given to people involved with healthcare in Cook County.

Among them was Dr. Kurt Farchmin. WTIP spoke many times with Farchmin in 2020 about COVID-19 news and information specific to the situation on the local level.

In his final update on North Shore Community Radio for the year, Farchmin spoke with WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs about the arrival of the vaccine to Cook County, reports of mutations of the new coronavirus and what to prepare for in 2021 as the pandemic continues.

The audio below is the entire conversation that aired live on WTIP Dec. 23.

In related news, WTIP spoke earlier this week with Cook County Public Health Supervisor Grace Grinager about the recent front-page article in the Star Tribune addressing how the Cook County community worked tirelessly this year to keep the COVID-19 case count low. Dr. Farchmin is quoted in the article, at one point referenced as the ‘Dr. Fauci’ of Cook County by a local business operator. The audio below also contains Farchmin’s sentiments about the comparison.

Joe Friedrichs December 24, 2020