Four more McLean County residents have died of complications related to COVID-19, the McLean County Health Department (MCHD) reported Tuesday. That's the largest string of COVID deaths over a four-day period in the county since mid-April. It also matches the county’s COVID death toll for the month of August.
The four most recent deaths were all men: two in their 60s, one in his 70s, and one in his 80s. The man in his 80s was associated with long-term care, according to MCHD.
They county has reported 249 COVID-related deaths since the start of the pandemic.
MCHD said the county added 136 new coronavirus cases since Friday. There are 443 people isolating at home, while 251 people were released from quarantine over the weekend; 20,111 McLean County residents are considered recovered from COVID-19, according to the health department.
Hospital capacity remains tight. Twenty-eight McLean County residents are hospitalized with COVID-19 — up six from Friday. Carle BroMenn Medical Center and OSF St. Joseph Medical Center report they have 32 COVID patients receiving care. All but 8% of their intensive care beds are in use, and 93% of all beds are occupied.
Testing record
McLean County's testing positivity rate dropped to 3.4%, while the county set a testing record.
According to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), there were 13,470 coronavirus tests conducted in McLean County during the week of Aug. 31-Sept. 6. That’s the county’s highest weekly total since the pandemic began.
The COVID testing site at the Interstate Center in Bloomington remained open on Labor Day on Monday to provide additional testing access. COVID testing is available at various locations, including pharmacies and doctors’ offices.
Campus cases
The pace of new COVID cases and new vaccinations at Illinois State University have both slowed in the last week.
Twenty-four new coronavirus cases have turned up in positive tests at on-campus sites. That brings the total since the start of school to 135 cases.
The rate of vaccinated students ticked up by a point to 72%. The faculty and staff vaccination rate went up two points to 89%. ISU held two vaccination clinics last week and 104 people received a shot. ISU’s campus testing positivity rate is 0.7%.
Illinois Wesleyan University has had 90 new coronavirus cases among students during the fall semester, according to its COVID dashboard. That includes 27 new cases identified through campus surveillance. The university reported three new coronavirus cases since Sept. 3 after announcing 21 new cases last week. IWU requires students who are not fully vaccinated to be tested for the virus each Wednesday. The university said 90% of students are now fully vaccinated.
Heartland Community College reported 10 new coronavirus cases from the week of Aug. 28-Sept. 3, including five students and five employees. HCC indicated it has had 138 positive tests among students and 41 among staff since the start of the semester.
COVID vaccinations
Currently 52.5% of McLean County residents are fully vaccinated, according to IDPH. More than 181,300 COVID vaccines have been distributed in McLean County, including nearly 1,900 in the last week. The weekly vaccination count was the lowest in McLean County since late July after several weeks of increases.
The statewide vaccination rate is 53.4%.
