Active COVID-19 cases in the Tri-County are on the rise again after falling steadily over the past seven weeks.
Local health departments in Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties on Monday reported 597 residents with coronavirus infections, including 25 patients at Peoria-area hospitals.
That represents a caseload increase of 149 since last Tuesday, and the most active cases since 658 on Oct. 15. The last time a week started with more active cases than the previous Monday was Sept. 20, when the total climbed by 51, to 1,096.
The three counties have added 505 new COVID-19 cases since last Monday, including 213 over the weekend. That marks the largest Monday-to-Monday gain since Oct. 4.
The region’s case count since the start of the pandemic is up to 54,566, while the death toll stands at 846 with 10 fatalities attributed to the pandemic since the start of November. Woodford County has not logged a COVID-19 death since Oct. 1.
Figures from the Illinois Department of Public Health show 52.5% of Tri-County residents are fully vaccinated, while 55.1% have received at least one dose.
