UPDATED 4:10 P.M. | McLean County has set a new record for COVID hospitalizations for the third consecutive day, with the county surpassing 17,000 coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic.The McLean County Health Department (MCHD) reported 32 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases on Thursday from a batch of about 1,500 tests recorded overnight.
The number of active cases dropped, as 81 people completed their time in quarantine since Wednesday. Currently 558 people are isolating at home.
The county reported 16,197 people have been released from isolation and are considered recovered.
In all, 58 McLean County residents are hospitalized with COVID-19, according to the health department. Carle BroMenn Medical Center and OSF St. Joseph Medical Center have 39 COVID patients under their care. Bloomington-Normal hospitals are 93% full -- up from 89% the day before -- while 92% of intensive care beds are occupied.
The county’s rolling testing positivity rate dipped nearly a half point to 5.2%, and the cumulative positivity rate slipped to 5.5%, based on more than 307,400 tests conducted since March 2020.
MCHD has reported 216 COVID-related deaths.
Vaccinations
Chestnut Family Health Center in Bloomington announced Thursday it will begin to offer COVID vaccines to anyone 18 and older. Appointments for the vaccinations at 702 W. Chestnut St. can be made on Chestnut's website.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports more than 111,200 COVID vaccine doses have been put into arms in McLean County, while about 47,700 McLean County residents are considered fully vaccinated.
The county’s rate of fully vaccinated is 27.6%, just behind the state average of 28%.
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