La Salle County reports more than 300 COVID-19 cases in first 3 days of December

More than 300 COVID-19 cases were confirmed within the first three days of December, the La Salle County Health Department said, noting cases increased significantly.

With two additional days tabulated in its latest update, there were 524 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in countywide since Nov. 24 and two residents who died from complications related to the virus. There were 223 cases reported in the latest full week (Nov. 12-19), in comparison.

A man in his 70s and a woman in her 90s were the seventh and eighth COVID-related death in November. The eight deaths were the fewest in a month in La Salle County since July.

There were 915 COVID-19 cases in all of November, which is third-highest count in 2021, behind January with 1,682 cases and September with 934 cases. There have already been 319 cases confirmed in December, so far.

There were 11 residents hospitalized for COVID-19 in the past seven days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since Nov. 24, 122 residents have been removed from isolation.

Making up the new cases are 53 boys younger than 13, 49 girls younger than 13, 40 teenage boys, 42 teenage girls, 40 men in their 20s, 35 women in their 20s, 35 men in their 30s, 38 women in their 30s, 30 men in their 40s, 39 women in their 40s, 27 men in their 50s, 30 women in their 50s, 17 men in their 60s, 25 women in their 60s, 11 men in their 70s, eight women in their 70s, three men in their 80s and two women in their 80s.

There were 142 new COVID-19 cases among residents of the Ottawa ZIP code; 84 in Marseilles, 84 in Streator, 62 in Peru, 44 in La Salle, 39 in Mendota, 27 in Sandwich, 26 in Seneca, 22 in Oglesby, 21 in Leland, 19 in Somonauk, 19 in Utica, 17 in Earlville, 12 in Tonica, nine in Grand Ridge, six in Serena, four in Millington, four in Ransom, three in Lostant, two in unincorporated Wenona, one in Troy Grove and one in Rutland.

The La Salle County Health Department urges everyone 5 years and older to get vaccinated and all eligible adults to get a booster.

“People should continue to take the recommended public health precautions — vaccinate, booster, wear a mask, avoid crowds, test and physically distance,” the health department said.

For information on how to get a vaccine, go to www.vaccines.gov. 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.

The health department also offers booster doses on a weekly basis, by appointment only. Additionally, the La Salle County Health Department offers the Pfizer vaccine for children on a weekly basis, by appointment only. To schedule an appointment for a booster dose or children’s vaccination go to www.lasallecounty.org and click on the “COVID-19 vaccine information” icon. There are links to schedule an appointment for a booster dose of Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson.

There have been 57,422 residents fully vaccinated in La Salle County, which is 52.47% of the county’s population; 62,528 residents with one dose of vaccination, which is 57.1% of the county’s population; and 15,659 residents have received a booster, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

La Salle County is at the state’s warning level for increased transmission of COVID-19. A warning level means that a county saw increases in two or more COVID-19 risk indicators. La Salle County continues to experience a new case rate of higher than 50 per 100,000 (201 per 100,000) and its health region has less than 20% of ICU beds available (at 17.1%).