MCHD: “We are approaching the peak of that curve” after COVID-19 cases increase to 63

McLean County Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight (center) and McLean County Health Department Communication Specialist Dion McNeal (left). (Photo courtesy: Blake Haas/WJBC)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – A day after the McLean County Health Department announced the most cases since the COVID-19 pandemic began, health officials announced one new case moving the county total to 63 confirmed cases.

“We are actually in the acceleration phase, so we are approaching the peak of that curve in this moment and the next couple of weeks,” Jessica McKnight McLean County Health Department Administrator said. “The one case if you are still looking at the total numbers is still increasing overall. It is likely due to just reporting and what time those cases come in. Yesterday we saw 14, and today we saw one.”

Of the 63 cases, 30 remain in home isolation, 25 have fully recovered, and six remain hospitalized with three in the ICU.

McLean County Health Department Communications Specialists Dion McNeal reports 650 McLean County residents have been tested for COVID-19. However, federal funding for the McLean County Fairgrounds COVID-19 testing site ends April 10.

“We are aware that after the 10th, the federal support for that will no longer be available. It will be up to the Illinois Department of Public Health to figure out if these community-based testing sites like ours will continue to run.”

(Photo courtesy: McLean County Health Department)

During his daily press briefing heard on AM 1230 WJBC, Gov. Pritzker announced 1,529 new cases of COVID-19 and 82 deaths, moving the state total to 15,078 cases and 462 deaths.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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