UPDATED 2:45 P.M. | McLean County health officials reported two more COVID-related deaths on Wednesday while the county’s total of COVID-19 hospitalizations reached a new record of 56.The McLean County Health Department (MCHD) announced 91 new and confirmed coronavirus cases from a batch of about 1,900 tests conducted since Tuesday. The county's total coronavirus caseload has reached 16,997.
The health department said two women are the latest fatalities: one was in her 60s, and one was in her 70s. Neither was associated with long-term care. That brings McLean County's COVID death toll to 216.
The county said 609 people are isolating at home, while 71 people have completed their time in quarantine since Tuesday. According to MCHD, 16,116 people have been released from isolation and are considered recovered since the start of the pandemic.
Hospital capacity eased a bit despite the record number of hospitalizations. The 56 hospitalizations include McLean County residents who are receiving care outside of McLean County.
Bloomington-Normal hospitals have 33 COVID patients under their care, while 89% of their beds are occupied, including 92% of intensive care beds.
McLean County’s seven-day testing positivity rate inched up to 5.6%, topping state and national averages. The county’s cumulative positivity rate also stands at 5.6%, based on more than 305,900 tests conducted since the start of the pandemic.
Vaccinations
MCHD announced Wednesday afternoon it will hold its first drive-through and evening COVID vaccination clinics next week to expand access to the COVID vaccines.
Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington will take evening appointments from 4:30-7 p.m. on April 29. Midwest Food Bank in Normal will hold a drive-through clinic from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on May 1.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), nearly 27% of McLean County residents are fully vaccinated, compared with 27.5% of the state population.
More than 109,000 vaccines have been administered in McLean County, including more than 2,000 since Tuesday.
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