The pace of new COVID-19 infections at long-term care facilities in McLean County has slowed as vaccinations increase in those facilities and among those over the age of 65. Seven facilities with previous active outbreaks have had no new cases in two weeks.
Since Jan. 25, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 24 new cases among older people at long-term care facilities, or 4.1% of the total new cases in the county in that two-week period. That percentage also is below the 5.5% average of cases since the start of the pandemic among people connected to such facilities.
Older people at long-term care facilities continue to die from previous infections. The state reported nine new deaths connected to such facilities since Jan. 25.
There are now 12 open COVID-19 outbreaks at McLean County nursing homes and long-term care facilities, according to the IDPH. That’s one less than on Jan. 25. Two facilities have dropped off the list of active outbreaks and one new facility appears on the state list.
The two facilities that have dropped off the list of active outbreaks are Bloomington Rehab and Carriage Crossing Senior Living. That means they have had no new cases in the last month.
Another five facilities remain on the active list, but have had no new cases in the last reporting period. Those are Evergreen Supportive Living, Heritage Health-Bloomington, Heritage Health-Normal, Arcadia Care Bloomington, and Luther Oaks.
The new outbreak is at Westminster Village Assisted Living with three cases and no deaths.
Heritage Health-Normal continues to hold the record for deadliest outbreak with 150 confirmed cases and 27 deaths reported. The number of cases remains unchanged, though four more people have died in the last two weeks.
The McLean County Nursing Home added 6 new confirmed cases, but no new deaths over the period. That brings the current total to 106 cases and 15 deaths during the facility’s second outbreak.
The remaining 10 active outbreaks:
- Arcadia Care Bloomington/Aperion (74 cases, 6 deaths)--unchanged
- Bickford of Bloomington (4 cases, 1 deaths)--1 new death
- Evergreen Supportive Living (11 cases, 0 deaths)--unchanged
- Heritage Health Bloomington (8 cases, 0 deaths)--unchanged
- Luther Oaks (8 cases, 1 death); previous outbreaks--unchanged
- Sugar Creek Alzheimer’s Special Care (45 cases, 13 deaths)--1 new case 2 new deaths
- The Lofts (65 cases, 11 deaths)--14 new cases
- Village of Mercy Creek (5 cases, 0 deaths)--1 new case
- Westminster Village (63 cases, 12 deaths)--2 new deaths
- Westminster Assisted Living 3 cases --new outbreak
Another 12 outbreaks are considered closed.
There have now been 766 COVID-19 cases tied to McLean County nursing homes, and 115 people at long- term care facilities in McLean County have died, according to IDPH data. Long-term care facilities account for about 5.4% of overall cases, (down .1% from the last reporting period), but 81.6% of deaths since the start of the pandemic (up from 72.6% in the last reporting period).
There's no subscription fee to listen or read our stories. Everyone can access this essential public service thanks to community support. Donate now, and help fund your public media.
