UPDATED 15:40 | McLean County has its first COVID-19 case linked to the most contagious variant of the coronavirus in the UK.
County health department administrator Jessica McKnight said at a news conference on Friday that she did not give details about the case, adding that it is a concern as COVID cases are increasing again.
“We could see another increase in cases if we are negligent in our efforts to prevent transmission,” said McKnight. “The more the virus can spread, the greater the risk of seeing even more dangerous variants evolving.”
Last month, health officials confirmed the South African variant in a Rock Island resident who tested positive for the coronavirus.
The McLean County Health Department (MCHD) announced 33 new cases of coronavirus on Friday. This brings the county’s total confirmed and probable cases since the pandemic began to 14,626.
The county had 252 new cases reported in the past week – the highest weekly count in the county since January.
According to the MCHD, 164 patients with coronavirus are isolating themselves at home and another 40 people have completed their quarantine time in the past 24 hours and are considered to be recovered.
There are 22 McLean County residents hospitalized with COVID-19, while 94% of Bloomington-Normal hospital beds and 73% of ICU beds are occupied.
The county reports 173 COVID-related deaths.
The positivity rate for McLean County’s seven-day tests has dropped to 2.3%, while the cumulative positivity rate remains at 5.9%, based on more than 249,500 tests carried out since the pandemic began.
Vaccine update
McKnight said McLean County expects to receive about 2,900 first-dose COVD vaccines next week. She said it is an increase over the past few weeks and, if the trend continues, the county could soon start vaccinating people with underlying medical conditions.
“I am hopeful that we will be able to switch to expanded 1B-Plus eligibility sooner than we originally anticipated,” said McKnight.
She said that about half of the county’s eligible population received at least one dose, adding that she would like it to be about 75% before expanding eligibility.
Illinois is expected to receive more than 100,000 doses of the new COVID vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, but McKnight said he did not know when the county will receive its first shipment of the single dose vaccine.
“I think it will still be several weeks before we see this in the counties, although it is great if we prove that we are wrong and if we receive it earlier, because that would only allow us to give our community more vaccine,” said McKnight.
Most of Johnson & Johnson’s first vaccine shipments are directed to mass vaccination sites across the state
As of Friday, nearly 40,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in McLean County, while nearly 14,000 people in the Phase 1A and 1B populations received both doses.
This is according to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). The figures show that McLean County’s total vaccination rate (8.1%) slightly exceeds the state average (8%).
The MCHD announced five vaccination clinics for the first and second doses in the next two weeks.
- Tuesday, March 9 at the Grossinger Motors Arena in downtown Bloomington; first doses only
- Wednesday, March 10 at the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) in Normal, only second doses
- Thursday, March 11 at Grossinger; first and second doses
- Friday, March 12 at the ARC; only second doses
- Tuesday, March 16 at Grossinger; first doses only
COVID scams
The MCHD also said the department’s COVID call center received two calls from the public this week reporting fraudulent calls or text messages.
“It looks like scammers are using our call center phone number,” health department spokeswoman Marianne Manko said in a press release.
Manko said that contact trackers and call center staff never ask for personal information, payment information or text messages and ask you to click on a link.
The call center is open from 9 am to 4 pm on weekdays. The telephone number is (309) 888-5600.
Coronavirus in McLean County
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