The Vermilion County Health Department says a more-contagious version of COVID-19 is being found in the Danville area.
Douglas Toole, Health Department Director, says the B-117 variant is accompanying a rising number of COVID cases in the county. Currently there are 116 active COVID cases in the county.
Thirty new cases were reported for Vermilion County on Friday. And Toole said, sadly, the county has recorded another COVID-related death – a woman in her eighties. A total of 132 Covid-related deaths have occurred in Vermilion County since the pandemic began. There have also been 131,888 negative test results in the county.
Of the 30 new Covid cases reported Friday, two are residents in their 70s, two in their 60s, five in their 50s, one in their 40s, seven in their 30s, six in their twenties, three teenagers, and four grade-school-aged children. The county has had 9,102 positive cases since the pandemic began.
Toole says as the number of COVID cases continues to increase, the number of COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths are also climbing. The increase in cases can impact the number of open hospital beds, workplaces and schools.
‘’Wearing face masks and practicing social distancing can help slow the spread of this disease. Please continue to be vigilant. Make smart choices. Be safe,’’ said Toole in a news release.
Toole adds the Vermilion County Health Department will continue to have additional vaccination resources and Illinois National Guard personnel in the county for a few more weeks. But he added the clinics will not be at this level of availability for long. So, if you are considering getting a COVID vaccination, Toole says you should do it sooner rather than later.
Second-dose Moderna vaccinations were being offered Saturday (April 24, 2021) at the Vermilion Regional Airport to those who received their first-dose Moderna vaccinations last month. And Toole said they were also offering some first-dose vaccination opportunities.
Check the Health Department’s website, www.vchd.org, or call 217-431-2662, extension 263 or 264 for details.
