Tri-County health officials on Friday reported eight new COVID-19-related deaths, including six victims from Tazewell County.
The latest fatalities bring the region’s death toll since the start of the pandemic to 475, up from 400 reported in the health departments’ last 2020 update on Dec. 30.
Officials reported 274 additional coronavirus infections, bringing the case count to 29,883 since mid-March and 1,437 illnesses in the past week. Active cases moved to 2,781, with 96 patients in Peoria-area hospitals, including 24 in intensive care units.
Five of the six Tazewell County victims were men, including two residents of Aperion Morton Villa – one of whom was in his 40s. The sixth was a woman in her 80s from Generations at Riverview in East Peoria. A Peoria County woman in her 90s from Cornerstone and a Woodford County woman in her 80s also succumbed to the disease.
The McLean County Board of Health met Wednesday, January 13, 2021
As Illinois COVID-19 vaccine distribution begins its next phase Monday, many older residents and essential workers are eager to get their shots, officials said at Wednesday s meeting of the McLean County Board of Health.
Currently, in Phase 1a, only health care workers and nursing home residents can be vaccinated against the coronavirus. But the department is readying for Phase 1b, said Jessica McKnight, McLean County Health Department administrator.
In this next phase, people 65 and older and everyone from educators to grocery store clerks, will be able to access the vaccine. A full list of eligibity criteria is on the department s website.
Joe Deacon / WCBU
Three more Peoria County residents of long-term care facilities have succumbed to COVID-19, with Tri-County health officials reporting Tuesday an increase of 276 coronavirus infections in the past day.
The region added 113 active COVID cases since Monday. While Peoria-area hospitals reported 108 coronavirus patients – down 23 from the day before – the number of residents in home isolation climbed to 2,833.
The three latest victims were a man in his 70s from Sharon Willows, and two women in their 80s – one from Sharon Elms and one from Manor Court. Their deaths bring the Tri-County area’s total fatalities to 428, with 151 in just over one month (277 on Dec. 4). The region’s case count stands at 27,527.
Peoria, IL, USA 104.9 The Wolf
1470-100.3 WMBD/Kristina Leahy
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Monday announced a mobile testing site will be available in Woodford County Dec. 28.
The testing site will be at the Woodford County Health Department, located at 1831 S. Main St. in Eureka, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
According to IDPH, anyone can be tested, regardless of symptoms or immigration status. There is also no cost for testing, but individuals should bring their insurance card if they have one.
Specimens are collected at the mobile sites using a simple nasal swab, with drive-through and walk-up available at most locations.