MCHD officials report new COVID-19 death; warn Delta variant could raise cases

Posted on June 23, 2021
Marianne Manko, the public affairs coordinator for the health department reported the new death on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – For the past week, the McLean County Health Department is reporting one COVID-related death with 16 new cases of the virus.

According to the county’s Public Affairs Coordinator, Marianne Manko, 24 people are isolating at home, while 18,195 have been released from isolation and are considered recovered.

Officials report the county’s latest death is a man in his 60’s who is not associated with a long-term care facility. There are 234 COVID-related deaths in the county.

While there are no McLean County residents hospitalized with the virus, local hospitals are treating three residents outside the county for COVID-19.

However, there is a new concern for local officials, who say the Delta variant is already present in the county.

“The more transmissible Delta variant could lead to a rise in cases again and is especially dangerous for those unvaccinated,” Manko added.

On the vaccine front, approximately 159,303 doses of the vaccine have been administered in the county.

More than 365,900 tests have resulted in a cumulative positivity rate of 5.0%. The rolling 7-day positivity rate is 0.5%.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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