McLean County reported three more deaths Monday due to COVID-19 complications. They include a man in his 40s, a man in his 60s and another in his 90s. Only the oldest of the three was in long-term care.
There have been 290 COVID-related deaths reported in McLean County since the start of the pandemic.
Data from the McLean County Health Department (MCHD) show the county is approaching 1,000 active cases. That's near an 11-month high. The health department reported 295 new coronavirus cases since Friday.
Twenty-five McLean County residents are hospitalized — the county’s highest mark in nearly two months, while 972 people are isolating at home. MCHD said 94% of Bloomington-Normal hospital beds are full.
The county’s seven-day testing positivity rate dropped to 5.2%.
McLean County has seen a rise in COVID vaccinations in recent days. More than 1,100 doses were put in arms for three consecutive days, Dec. 2-4. The county’s rate of fully vaccinated is 56.9%. That trails the state rate of 58.7%.
School cases
Bloomington-Normal public schools saw a spike in coronavirus cases after students returned from the Thanksgiving break. In Normal-based Unit 5, 149 people tested positive, according to the district’s COVID-19 dashboard.
That includes an outbreak of 24 cases at Normal Community West High School and 17 at Normal Community High School. Nearly 480 students district wide had to quarantine. The district reported 54 cases the previous week.
In the smaller Bloomington-based District 87, 41 students and six staff tested positive last week, according to its COVID-19 dashboard. That’s up from 24 the week before.
