PEORIA, Ill. – Local health officials contend that most of the recent cases of COVID-19 in the Tri-County area are among those unvaccinated, but it’s one age group that may be of the greatest concern.
The Tri-Counties saw an increase of 569 cases of COVID in the past week, up to 52,081. Among active cases, 20 percent are among children aged zero to nine.
Peoria City/County Health Department Administrator Monica Hendrickson says she knows where COVID cases in children are NOT being spread.
“It is not happening within the classroom setting,” Hendrickson said. “That’s because our schools have done a lot of mitigation and control methods in the classroom setting.”
Where it’s happening, Hendrickson says, could very well be everywhere else.
“While we wait for that age range to be eligible for the vaccine, we have to do our part,” said Hendrickson. “The community around them has to protect them by one, getting vaccinated, but also wearing masks, staying home when they’re ill, getting tested.”
The zero-to-nine-year-olds are followed in terms of percentage of cases by 10-to-19-year-olds, and then those 30 to 39, followed by 50 to 59.
In the weekly Tri-County report, Peoria County has 26,407 cases, up 569 in the past week. Tazewell County has 19,977 cases, an increse of 230. Woodford County has 5,697 cases, higher by 77.
One death was reported in the last week, bringing that total to 814.
830 active cases are in isolation at home, while 29 are hospitalized. Sixteen cases are in local hospital Intensive Care Units. One hospitalized cases is in someone under the age of 17.
