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WGLT's reporting on the coronavirus pandemic, which began in McLean County in March 2020.

McLean County's Positivity Rate Drops To Lowest Level In Over 4 Months

Emily Bollinger
/
WGLT

McLean County health officials reported 34 new confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases on Thursday, as the county’srolling testing positivity rate dipped to 2.4% -- the lowest rate since Oct. 1.

It’s also below the statewide rate of 3.3% and is less than half the national rate of 6.4%.

The new cases bring McLean County’s total case count since the start of the pandemic to 14,153. The McLean County Health Department (MCHD) removed 64 cases from the total, indicating they were previously reported false positives.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reviewing the situation. MCHD officials said all individuals affected by the lab error have been contacted by IDPH and additional testing was conducted, when necessary.

Fewer people from McLean County are hospitalized with COVID-19, too. That number dropped to 15 overnight, down from 18 on Wednesday.

However, hospital capacity is unchanged. Currently, 65% of intensive care beds are in use. Only 11% of all hospital beds are open.

MCHD reports about 21,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in McLean County. That’s up 1,000 from the day before. According to IDPH data, 4,547 McLean County residents have been fully vaccinated. That’s about 2.63% of the population.

McLean County is still slightly behind the state rate. A total of 1,549,108 doses have been administered statewide. About 347,000 Illinoisans are fully vaccinated -- accounting for 2.72% of the population.

McLean County health officials announced five vaccine clinics next week in partnership with Carle Bromenn Medical Center in Normal:

  • Tues, Feb. 16, at the Grossinger Motors Arena in downtown Bloomington for those eligible residents due and scheduled for their second dose of vaccine and a limited number of first doses
  • Wednesday, Feb. 17, at the Activity and Recreation Center (ARC) in Normal for McLean County residents currently eligible for their first dose
  • Thursday, Feb. 18, at Grossinger for those eligible residents due and scheduled for their second dose of vaccine
  • Thursday, Feb. 18, at (ARC) for McLean county residents due and scheduled for their second dose of vaccine
  • Friday, Feb. 19, at Grossinger for McLean County residents due and scheduled for their second dose

Appointments are required and can be made through the MCHD website.

The county’s COVID-19 Call Center is available from 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.Monday through Friday at (309) 888-5600 to assist people without access to a computer.

Coronavirus In McLean County
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Dana Vollmer is a reporter with WGLT. Dana previously covered the state Capitol for NPR Illinois and Peoria for WCBU.
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