Positive COVID-19 tests in the Tri-County region are down significantly in the past two weeks, while the area's case count since the start of the pandemic has moved past 45,000.
Figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) show Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties combining for just 57 positives among 3,379 tests on Friday. That 1.7% positivity rate is down from 4.8% on May 4.
Area public health officials on Monday announced 116 new confirmed or probable coronavirus infections over the weekend, along with five more deaths linked to COVID-19. The Tri-County’s totals since last March stand at 45,068 cases and 710 fatalities.
The latest victims include four Peoria County residents: two men and two women, all 60 or older. The other victim was a Tazewell County man in his 50s.
Peoria-area hospitals are treating 78 patients with coronavirus infections, including 24 in intensive care units, while 451 residents are isolating at home.
IDPH reports 946 new COVID-19 cases in the past day, along with six more fatalities — all from Cook and DuPage counties. Illinois has logged 1,367,214 infections and 22,445 fatalities since the start of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, updated IDPH vaccine administration figures show the Tri-County at 37% of the population now fully vaccinated for COVID-19. The region added 2,832 fully dosed individuals since Friday, along with 3,949 total injections to bring the count to 269,464 shots in arms.
Illinois as a whole has administered 10.4 million doses, and 4.8 million residents (37.7%) are fully vaccinated.
