La Salle County reports 6 COVID-19 related deaths in past week

The number of COVID-19 related deaths in La Salle County this month has exceeded the number in all of September 2020.

In the past week, there were six deaths from complications related to COVID-19 — a man in his 40s, a woman in her 50s, a man in his 60s, two women in their 60s and a woman in her 80s, making it 13 COVID-19 related deaths this month. There were nine in September 2020.

There have been 377 COVID-19 related deaths in La Salle County since the beginning of the pandemic.

Additionally, the La Salle County Health Department confirmed there were 261 new COVID-19 cases. Making up the new cases are 27 boys younger than 13, 30 girls younger than 13, 19 teenage boys, 19 teenage girls, 19 men in their 20s, 20 women in their 20s, 13 men in their 30s, 13 women in their 30s, 18 men in their 40s, 15 women in their 40s, 14 men in their 50s, 15 women in their 50s, 12 men in their 60s, eight women in their 60s, four men in their 70s, six women in their 70s, six men in their 80s, a woman in her 80s and two women in their 90s.

Since last week, there were 157 residents removed from isolation after a COVID-19 diagnosis.

By ZIP code, there were 57 new cases in Streator in the past week, 39 in Ottawa, 33 in Peru, 33 in La Salle, 15 in Marseilles, 14 in Mendota, 13 in Sandwich, 11 in Seneca, 10 in Oglesby, 10 in Sheridan, six in Leland, five in Somonauk, three in Earlville, two in Utica, one in Leonore, one in Lostant, one in Grand Ridge, one in Ransom, one in Rutland, one in Tonica, one in Wenona and one in Cedar Point.

La Salle County continues to see an increase in the number of cases and the number of deaths reported for seven days has increased by more than 20% for two consecutive weeks. 

In addition, within the North-Central Region (Region 2) there are 16.9% of ICU beds available, which is below the 20% target.

Until La Salle County can get a handle on the number of new cases being identified each week and slow the spread occurring, La Salle County will continue to be at risk for remaining at the state’s warning level. This status, also known as “orange,” indicates there are warning signs of increased COVID-19 risk in the county. A warning level means a county saw increases in two or more COVID-19 risk indicators.

In addition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Data Tracker at https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view, La Salle County is experiencing high community transmission based on the seven-day moving average of new cases per 100,000 (250.30 per 100,000) as of Thursday.

All Illinois residents are required to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, the La Salle County Health Department said. Masks continue to remain a way everyone can reduce transmission and keep themselves and those around them safe and healthy, the health department said.

“Vaccination is one of the most important tools we have available to us,” the health department said. “It has never been easier to get vaccinated for COVID-19. There are many options available in our community.”

Go to https://www.vaccines.gov/ to search for vaccination opportunities.

There have been 53,190 La Salle County residents fully-vaccinated of COVID-19, which is 48.61% of the county’s population.

The La Salle County Health Department has COVID -19 vaccine available at the health department on Etna Road in Ottawa by appointment only, Monday through Friday. The health department has Johnson and Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer available. Residents who still need to be vaccinated should call the health department at 815-433-3366 to make an appointment.