MCHD announces two additional cases of COVID-19; 87 have recovered

(Photo courtesy: McLean County Health Department)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Health Department announced two more cases of COVID-19, bringing the county to 112 cases.

Health officials announced seven Illinois State University students have COVID-19. Officials say the seven cases are all related and stem from a small gathering at the end of April or the beginning of May.

“There were a couple of gatherings on a couple of different dates. So we are working on contact identity of those who attended those gatherings,” Melissa Graven McLean County Communicable Disease Specialist said.

Of the 112 cases, 87 have fully recovered. However, 20 remain in home isolation, and two remain in the hospital.

There have been three deaths in the county.

“The disease has been present in our community for a while. The weather is nice, and people are getting anxious and antsy and are possibly testing the measures of social distancing efforts and messaging that we are trying to promote,” Graven said. “My message is that COVID-19 is not going away; it is a virus that’s going to affect everybody equal opportunity.”

In McLean County, 3,139 residents have been tested for COVID-19.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…