UPDATED 4:25 P.M. | December is now the deadliest month for COVID-19 in McLean County. Health officials reported four more deaths on Friday, bringing this month’s death toll to 19. Sixty-nine people from McLean County have died since the start of the pandemic.
McLean County logged 11 deaths this week alone—also a new record. October held the previous record as the deadliest month with 15 COVID-related deaths.
The latest deaths include a man in his 90s who lived at a long-term care facility. A woman in her 80s and two men—one in his 80s and one in his 70s—also passed away.
McLean County Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight said the rise in deaths come as no surprise, given the spike in new coronavirus cases over the last month.
"Sadly, the increase in the deaths we have had over the last few weeks is something we have anticipated because it's a lagging indicator," McKnight said. "That's why we are hopeful we can keep our numbers down because we are also hoping to keep our hospitalizations down as we are entering this time of year where we normally see an increase in hospitalizations."
Other COVID-19 metrics improved overnight. McLean County’stesting positivity rate is now 8.7%.That marks the sixth consecutive day of decline. It’s the first time in two weeks that figure has fallen below 9%.
Hospital capacity continues to improve. Currently, there are 15 people from McLean County hospitalized with COVID-19. Intensive care bed occupancy is at 73%, while 11% of total beds are open.
The active caseload has declined all week. There are 1,130 people isolating at home. An additional 177 people are now considered recovered.
The county reported 732 new confirmed cases over the last seven days. That’s down from 961 at the end of last week.
People in their 20s made up the largest portion of new cases (124). That’s followed by people in their 50s (114) and children ages 1-17 (103). Older adults in their 70s, 80s and 90s accounted for 100 cases. Four cases were confirmed among infants.
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