Local health officials report three more COVID-related deaths since Friday

Posted on December 6, 2021
McLean County Health officials reported the new cases on Monday.(Facebook/McLean County Health Department)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – Three more McLean County residents have died from COVID-19, as county health officials report 295 new cases of the virus since Friday.

Officials report the latest deaths include one male in his 40’s and one male in his 60’s, who was not associated with a long-term care facility.

In addition, officials report the County’s third death is a 90-year old male who was associated with a long-term care facility.

There have been 290 COVID-related deaths in the County.

Meanwhile, 25 McLean County residents are hospitalized due to COVID-19, while 41 people are hospitalized in McLean County for COVID-19.

Local hospitals report 88% of ICU beds are in use, down from 92% on Friday. Authorities report 94% of total beds are in use, down from 97% on Friday.

The County’s cumulative positivity rate remained steady at 4.1%, while the rolling 7-day positivity rate declined to 5.2% from 6.8% on Friday.

Officials report 224,957 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the County, and 56.90% of the population are fully vaccinated.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports 58.73% of Illinois residents are fully vaccinated.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…