McLean County COVID-19 Update: 11-24-2021 

McLean County Health Department is reporting 104 new cases of COVID-19 since 11/23/2021 and 557 new cases since last Wednesday, 11/17/2021, bringing our total of probable and confirmed cases to 24,627. The weekly age breakdown for all cases added to the total is as follows:

At this time, 585 individuals are isolating at home. We are reporting 23,739 individuals have been released from isolation and are considered recovered.

Nineteen McLean County residents are reported to be hospitalized due to COVID-19. McLean County hospitals are reporting 88% of ICU beds in use, 97% of total beds in use. The total number of patients hospitalized for COVID at McLean County hospitals is 26.

COVID-related deaths are not reported out on the same day they occur. It may take days or even weeks to receive an official death certificate and cause of death. There have been 284 COVID-related deaths reported in McLean County. 

More than 608,100 tests have been resulted for a cumulative positivity rate of 4.0%. The rolling 7-day positivity rate is 4.2% through 11/23/2021. 

According to the CDC Data Tracker McLean County is currently experiencing high community transmission based on the 7-day moving average of new cases per 100,000 (289.18 per 100,000) of COVID-19 (data as of Monday, November 22, 2021). 

MCHC offering COVID-19  booster doses for all eligible individuals:

Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) authorization for the use of Pfizer-BioNTech’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for all adults aged 18 and over, and the Illinois Department of Public Health’s (IDPH’s) adoption of those orders, the McLean County Health Department (MCHD) is offering booster doses for all eligible individuals.

The updated authorization opens eligibility to anyone age 18 and older six months after receiving their second Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Adults aged 18 and older who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are also eligible to receive a booster two months after their first dose.

“With the holiday season upon us, and increasing cases of COVID-19, we recommend that everyone who is eligible to get a booster dose should get one,” said MCHD Administrator Jessica McKnight. “We are experiencing high community transmission in McLean County, meaning that people are at a high risk of coming into contact with the virus. The SARS-CoV-2 virus we dealt with this time last year has mutated into more contagious variants. Medical research has provided compelling evidence that booster doses can increase immunity when protection from the primary vaccine series begins to wane over time. We especially recommend the booster doses for those aged 50 and over.”

Although most Americans are choosing to receive a booster dose of the same vaccine they received of their primary series, the CDC has said mixing and matching vaccines for booster shots is allowed. For example, if you received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you may choose Moderna for your booster dose. Or, if you received two doses of the Moderna vaccine, you may opt to get a Pfizer vaccine for your booster dose. The Johnson & Johnson boosters and the Pfizer boosters provide the same dosage as was given for the primary series, while the Moderna boosters are half the dosage of what was given for the primary series.

The MCHD is also urging anyone considering a booster, or those who have not received their first dose(s) of the COVID-19 vaccine, to discuss the medical facts with their family physician or health provider in order to make an informed decision about the risks associated with a COVID-19 infection versus the risks associated with vaccinations and boosters.

MCHD and COVID-19 Call Center closed for the holiday:

The MCHD and the COVID-19 Call Center will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 25 & 26. The next daily COVID-19 update will be on Monday, November 29.

MCHD COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics for age 12 and over:

• Thursday, 12/02 from 12:30-2:30 at Grossinger Motors Arena
• Thursday, 12/09 from 10:00-3:00 at Grossinger Motors Arena 

These clinics are for individuals aged 12 and over who are authorized to receive first, second, third or booster doses. Due to increased demand, pre-registration is strongly recommended to reduce your wait time at the clinic and ensure the availability of the vaccine. You may pre-register by going online at https://health.mcleancountyil.gov/790/COVID-19-Vaccine or by calling the MCHD COVID-19 Call Center Mon-Fri 9am-4pm at (309) 888-5600.

MCHD COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics for Children Aged 5-11 ONLY:

• Thursday, 12/02 from 3:00-5:30 at Grossinger Motors Arena
• Tuesday, 12/07 from 8:30-3:00 at Grossinger Motors Arena 

These clinic are for children aged 5-11 only and registration is by appointment only and can be made via online registration at https://health.mcleancountyil.gov/790/COVID-19-Vaccine or by calling the MCHD COVID-19 Call Center at (309) 888-5600. The Call Center is open Monday-Friday from 9:00AM to 4:00PM.

To search for other vaccine locations available near you visit https://www.vaccines.gov/. 

Approximately 216,089 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in McLean County and 55.96% of the population are fully vaccinated. 57.68% of Illinois residents are fully vaccinated. The IDPH has created a dashboard on their website to track vaccine delivered and administered in the state: https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine/vaccine-data?county=McLean.

Fully vaccinated residents by age category are as follows:

Age 12-17 = 59.44%

Age 18-64 = 60.56%

Age 65+ = 91.08%