McLean County health officials reported three more deaths related to COVID-19 on Tuesday, including a man in his 20s and two women in their 70s. None were associated with long-term care.
According to the McLean County Health Department (MCHD), the man in his 20s who died had underlying health conditions.
That brings the county's death toll from the coronavirus pandemic to 287. Twelve deaths have been reported in the last month.
Eighteen McLean County residents are hospitalized with COVID — down from 22 on Monday, but Bloomington-Normal hospitals say 99% of their beds are full, including 92% of their intensive care beds.
McLean County has nearly 600 active coronavirus cases with 577 people isolating at home.
The county’s seven-day testing positivity rate rose to 8.3%, its highest mark since Jan. 13.
COVID vaccinations fall
Meanwhile, McLean County saw a drop in COVID vaccinations for the first time in eight weeks, even as younger children lined up to get the vaccines and adults returned for their booster shots.
The county fell to about 600 daily vaccinations during the week of Thanksgiving, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). That's down about 30% from the week before.
Following news of the omicron variant, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Monday revised its guidance on COVID booster shots to say all adults should get the booster six months after becoming fully vaccinated.
COVID testing drops
COVID testing also fell to a three-month low, dropping below 10,000 weekly tests for the first time since Aug. 16.
MCHD indicated the drop in testing could mean a greater share of coronavirus cases are going undetected.
“Because most of Illinois is experiencing high transmission rates, the MCHD recommends anyone who may have recently been exposed to someone who has COVID-19 be tested approximately 5-7 days after that exposure, even if they have no symptoms,” MCHD public affairs coordinator Marianne Manko said in a news release.
