It was another record-setting week for new coronavirus cases in McLean County, and Bloomington-Normal hospitals remain near capacity with COVID and other patients.
The McLean County Health Department (MCHD) reported Wednesday that 5,366 people tested positive for the coronavirus in the last week. That's 50% more cases than last week's record-setting total as the highly-contagious omicron variant leads to large spikes in cases across the country.
Fifty McLean County residents remain hospitalized. Carle BroMenn and OSF St. Joseph medical centers say 99% of their hospital beds are full and 92% of ICU beds are occupied. The two hospitals indicate they have 66 COVID patients receiving treatment. That's close to a record high. OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria has nine COVID inpatients, according to OSF HealthCare spokesperson Shelli Dankoff.
MCHD said 5,983 people are isolating at home, while 1,049 people completed their time in isolation overnight and 32,106 are considered recovered since the start of the pandemic.
The county's testing positivity rate dropped to 19.2%, still well above the state average. People in their 20s (1,411) and 30s (834) make up the largest share of new cases, 42%. Close to 16% of new cases (832) involve children age 11 and under.
There have been 320 COVID-related deaths in McLean County since the start of the pandemic.
COVID vaccinations
According to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), 4,488 COVID vaccines were put in arms in McLean County over the last week. That’s a decrease from the previous five weeks, even as new COVID cases rise.
Currently, 58.7% of McLean County residents are fully vaccinated. That trails the state average of 61.2%.
The vaccination rate among the youngest eligible population, 5-to-11-year-olds, is 18.6%.
