Tri-County health officials report 15 more people have died of COVID-19 complications, pushing the region’s deal toll since the start of the pandemic to 400.Nine of the deaths reported Wednesday involved people from Tazewell County, said the Peoria City/County Health Department. The deaths include cases linked to coronavirus outbreaks at Lakeside Rehab and Healthcare in East Peoria (two women in their 70s) and Pekin Manor (two men in their 90s). The other deaths were two women in their 80s, two men in their 80s and one man in his 90s.
Peoria County reported four deaths: a man in his 80s who resided at Lutheran Hillside Village, a woman in her 60s who had comorbidities, another woman in her 60s and a man in his 80s.
Woodford County reported the deaths of two residents of Snyder Village in Metamora--a woman in her 80s and a woman in her 90s.
The Tri-County area also added 268 new coronavirus cases: Tazewell County had 132, Peoria County had 88 and Woodford County 48. That brings the region’s coronavirus caseload to 26,018.
The rising death count comes on the same day McLean County’s COVID death toll topped 100.
The state of Illinois announced 7,734 new coronavirus cases and 178 deaths on Wednesday. The state's death toll stands at 16,357 with 955,380 cases.
The Peoria City/County Health Department added its next COVID update will be on Jan. 4 after the New Year’s holiday.
Vaccine update
Meanwhile, health departments in Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties said they are offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people included in the 1a priority group: staff at long-term care facilities, emergency medical services, hospitals, health departments, medical clinics, pharmacies and home health.
Those included in the priority group who wish to get the vaccine should contact their local health department and then return in 21 or 28 days for the second dose, depending on which vaccine they receive.
- Peoria County – email vaccinerequest@peoriacountyorg
- Tazewell County – call (309) 650-1555
- Woodford County – call (309) 467-3064
Peoria City/County Health Department Administrator Monica Hendrickson said Tuesday the former Heddington Oaks nursing home in west Peoriawill be a distribution site for those inoculations.
Vaccines will later be distributed to other priority groups, including essential frontline workers, senior citizens and people with high-risk medical conditions, before becoming available to the general public later in 2021.
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