MCHD Reports New COVID Death; Positivity Rate Down

The McLean County Health Department (MCHD) is reporting an additional COVID-related death and 162 new cases confirmed over the weekend.

The latest fatality is a man in his 60s who did not live in a long-term care facility. His death brings the county’s total since the start of the pandemic to 217.

This weekend’s cases were found in a batch of about 3,200 test results returned. McLean County’s testing positivity ratedropped nearly a percentage point—down to 4.3%. It’s the first time in three weeks the positivity rate dipped below 5%.

There are 58 county residents hospitalized with COVID complications. Bloomington-Normal intensive care unit bed capacity improved over the weekend. Currently, 65% of ICU beds are in use—down from 77% on Friday. About 9% of all hospital beds are available.

Another 545 county residents are isolating at home, while an additional 227 are now considered recovered.

More than 116,500 doses of the COVID vaccine have been administered in McLean County. Just under 30% of the county’s population is fully vaccinated, according to state data.

MCHD will resume use of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, following directives from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Use of the single-dose vaccine was paused for 11 days while federal regulators investigated a potential link to rare, serious blood clots.

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