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The first COVID vaccines are arriving at long-term care facilities in McLean County at the deadliest time of the pandemic.
December was the deadliest month in the pandemic in McLean County, with 51 deaths. Of these people, 31 were associated with long-term care, such as nursing homes.
There were 13 active outbreaks at long-term care facilities in McLean County on Friday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. At least 43 deaths have been attributed to these 13 outbreaks alone. (IDPH defines an “active” outbreak as an outbreak with cases within the past 28 days.)
The deadliest epidemics, according to the IDPH, have occurred in:
- Heritage Health of Normal, 11 deaths and 104 cases during the current active outbreak.
- McLean County Nursing Home, 11 deaths and 82 cases during the current active outbreak.
- Bloomington Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, 11 deaths and 59 cases. This outbreak occurred in May and has since ended.
The outbreak at the McLean County Nursing Home is notable because it is a government-owned facility. It had about 80 residents at the start of December, mostly those from Medicaid.
The situation has deteriorated over the past month. At the beginning of December, there were only 18 cases and zero deaths. Employees are tested for COVID-19 every week.
Like other long-term care facilities, the McLean County Nursing Home is expected to receive its first doses of the COVID vaccine soon. This will be done through a federal program in partnership with CVS and Walgreens. This program began vaccine distribution on December 28, although it is not known how many doses were given in the first week.
“We are working closely with Walgreens on the vaccine, but it is not known at this time when we will actually receive the vaccine,” said Terri Edens, administrator of the McLean County Nursing Home, in a report to the committee. McLean County Council Health before its January. 4 meeting.
About half of COVID deaths statewide have been linked to long-term care facilities. In McLean County, there were 66 out of 101 deaths, or 65%.
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