UPDATED 12:15 P.M. | McLean County’s active COVID-19 caseload continues to fall, though available bed space in Bloomington-Normal hospitals remains limited.The McLean County Health Department (MCHD) reported 69 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, bringing the county’s total of probable and confirmed cases to 13,604.
The department said 24 McLean County residents are hospitalized due to COVID-19. Bloomington-Normal hospitals are 82% full, up from 79% on Monday. Seventy-three percent of intensive care beds are in use, a 4% increase since Monday. The hospitals report 17 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19.
The county’s COVID death toll remains 146.
MCHD reported 500 people are isolating at home, while 106 additional people have completed their time in quarantine since Monday and are considered recovered. The county reported 12,934 people have recovered from COVID-19.
The county’s seven-day testing positivity rate rose slightly to 6.1%. The county’s cumulative positivity rate is 6.5%, based on more than 209,300 tests conducted since the start of the pandemic.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,667 additional coronavirus cases and 87 deaths Tuesday. DeWitt County reported the death of a man in his 70s. Livingston County had a woman in her 80s die of COVID complications. Logan County reported the death of a woman in her 70s. Tazewell County announced the death of a man in his 60s.
Vaccines
MCHD administrator Jessica McKnight said more than 8,500 COVID vaccines have been administered in the county. Currently, people in Phases 1a (frontline health care workers and long-term care facility residents) and 1b (essential workers and anyone 65 or older) are eligible to get the vaccine--though supplies remain limited.
MCHD and Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal have announced a COVID vaccination clinic on Thursday at the Activity and Recreation Center (ARC) at 600 E. Willow St. in Normal. The clinic is open only to healthcare workers and first responders. The health department is taking appointments at (309) 888-5600.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health's coronavirus website, three Jewel-Osco locations in McLean County; 2103 N. Veterans Parkway and 2203 E. Oakland Ave. in Bloomington and 901 S. Cottage Ave. in Normal, are scheduling vaccination appointments for those in Phases 1a and 1b.
Appointments can also be scheduled on the county health department's website, but there are no additional vaccines available now.
Public safety agencies that are included among Phase 1b have not been given specific vaccine allotments, Fire department officials in Bloomington and Normal say employees schedule their own appointments if they choose to get the vaccine.
Bloomington Fire Chief Eric West said as of Monday, 42 BFD staff members have received their first vaccine doses and will be getting their second doses in the first or second week of February.
Matt Swaney, public information officer with the Normal Fire Department, said nearly two-thirds of the department’s personnel have received the first vaccine.
Swaney said some staff will wait for their 60-day waiting period from the flu shot and 90 days from their COVID recovery before scheduling their vaccination.
Coronavirus In McLean County
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