The highly contagious Delta variant has contributed to a recent surge in new coronavirus cases in McLean County, according to data from the lab that has conducted sequencing of recent positive tests.
Reditus Labs of Pekin said 95% of the random positive test samples collected July 2-27 from testing sites in Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, Peoria, Rockford and the Metro East in Southern Illinois showed the Delta variant was present.
“The Delta variant has clearly become the dominant strain out of our positive samples,” said Reditus CEO Dr. Aaron Rossi.
Reditus conducted the sequencing test on 367 random positive samples on July 29 at its lab in Pekin. Reditus conducted similar testing in July and found the Delta variant in 18% of random samples conducted from June 4 to July 7.
New coronavirus cases
On Tuesday, the McLean County Health Department (MCHD) announced 36 new coronavirus cases. The positive tests came from a batch of about 400 tests returned overnight.
Hospitalizations increased to 14 among McLean County residents. That’s up from 12 on Monday.
Bloomington-Normal hospitals said they have 14 COVID patients in their care. MCHD said 205 McLean County residents are isolating at home. The county’s total of 219 active cases is its highest since May 20. According to county data, 24 people completed their time in quarantine since Monday and 18,503 people are considered recovered from COVID-19 since the pandemic started more than a year ago.
The county’s COVID death toll remains 241.
McLean County’s seven-day testing positivity rate rose to 4%, just below the state average and well below the national rate. The county’s cumulative positivity rate stands at 4.8%, based on more than 392,300 tests conducted since the start of the pandemic.
Vaccinations increase
Meanwhile, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the county saw a 43% increase in COVID vaccinations over the last week amid concerns about the Delta variant.
“Cases of COVID-19 continue to be on the rise in McLean County and across the state as the Delta variant becomes the predominant strain,” said MCHD administrator Jessica McKnight. “Anyone who is unvaccinated and not practicing preventive strategies such as masking is at an increased risk for infection by the new variant."
The county averaged 326 daily COVID vaccinations from July 27-Aug. 2. That compares with an average of 229 the week before. Vaccinations had plateaued for several weeks.
The county closed its mobile vaccination clinic at Grossinger Motors Arena last week as vaccines became more readily available at other locations, including doctors’ offices, health clinics, pharmacies and grocery stores.
Forty-nine percent of McLean County residents are fully vaccinated — compared with 51.1% of the statewide population.
