McLean County's weekly coronavirus caseload has reached its highest mark in more than a year, before COVID vaccinations began.
The McLean County Health Department (MCHD) reported 992 weekly cases from Dec. 1-7. Children under age 12 continue to make up the largest share of new cases (181). Children 17 and under make up 28% of new cases.
Thirty McLean County residents are hospitalized with COVID-19. That’s down one since Tuesday, but Bloomington-Normal hospitals are close to full capacity at 97%, and 88% of their intensive care beds are in use.
Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria reported Wednesday it currently has five COVID inpatients receiving care.
McLean County has 1,188 active coronavirus cases. The county’s seven-day testing positivity rate dipped to 6.7%.
MCHD has reported 290 COVID-related deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Omicron
Pekin-based Reditus Labs has confirmed it has started genetic sequencing for the omicron variant, but CEO Aaron Rossi said Reditus has not detected the variant's presence in central Illinois.
Omicron has been detected in one case in Chicago. That person did not require hospitalization.
The nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has said early indications show the omicron variant has generally led to more minor illness, but he cautioned the data is still preliminary.
Rural vaccination clinics
Meanwhile, MCHD has announced two rural vaccination clinics for people 12 and older. The first will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 13 at LeRoy First United Methodist Church. The second will be from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Hudson Fire Department.
The county also has clinics scheduled at Grossinger Motors Arena on Dec. 9, 15, 16, 29 and 30.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), 57.1% of McLean County residents are fully vaccinated.
