PEORIA, Ill. — The Peoria City/County Health Department announced Wednesday three new cases of COVID-19 in the Tri-County area.
There are 33 cases in Peoria County, 21 cases in Tazewell County, and 11 cases in Woodford County. There were no new deaths reported, keeping the total at four according to Health Administrator Monica Hendrickson.
There were two new cases reported in Peoria County, and one new case was reported in Woodford County.
“The Tri-County region has 65 cases to date,” Hendrickson said.
In Peoria hospitals, 21 ICU beds are in use with 15 under investigation and six confirmed to have COVID-19.
28 non-ICU beds are in use in Peoria hospitals.
While increased testing locally is on the horizon, Hendrickson said an antibody test, a blood test, will be a key testing ability.
“Which is still very limited and still under research conditions throughout the country,” Hendrickson said.
At the daily news briefing Wednesday, Peoria NAACP President Pastor Marvin Hightower encouraged local governments to reach out to black communities.
Black communities have been hardest hit by COVID-19 across the state, as those communities typically have fewer health-care options.
“I am imploring that our leadership in Peoria reach out and work with who ever they need to work with to advocate for a testing facility in 61603, 61604, or 61605 area as soon as possible,” Hightower said.
Peoria City Mayor Jim Ardis said he is encouraged about discussions of when to reopen economies, saying it’s a “light at the end of the tunnel.”
Ardis also echoed what many state and national leaders have said recently, saying that it appears the Peoria area is flattening the curve.
“Hopefully we’ll hit a plateau that will gradually shrink if we continue to employ the safety measures,” Ardis said.
