Six more residents of a long-term care facility in Marion County have tested positive for COVID-19. It continues an outbreak that started last week and included six other positive cases and one death.
Marion County Health Department Administrator Melissa Mallow says fortunately all of those testing positive were asymptomatic and were only found as part of weekly testing of all residents since the outbreak was first discovered. Of those testing positive, one was fully vaccinated, two were partially vaccinated and three were not vaccinated.
Of those testing positive on Thursday and Friday, two of the cases are considered community spread and the other six from household or close contacts. None of the cases involve students.
There are now 20 active cases in Marion County where those involved are on home isolation. No one is in the hospital.
The Clinton County Health Department reported three new cases on Friday. There are currently 20 on home isolation and three who are hospitalized.
The Jefferson County Health Department is reporting three new cases on Friday and a total of 27 on isolation.
Statewide, 1,841 new confirmed and probable cases were reported on Friday along with 49 additional deaths. None of the deaths were in South Central Illinois. Deaths in Southern Illinois include a male in his 60s from Franklin County, a female in her 70s from Madison County, a male in his 60s from St. Clair County, and a male in his 80s from Williamson County.
The statewide positivity rate for the past seven days dropped two-tenths of a percent and is now at 2.5-percent.