McLean County health administrator cautions against speedier reopening

Posted on May 28, 2020
McLean County Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight (center). (Blake Haas/WJBC)

 

By HOI ABC

BLOOMINGTON – The head of the McLean County Health Department believes the county government is not prepared to safely implement a quicker reopening of area businesses than prescribed by Gov. JB Pritzker’s phased-in approach.

Our news partner HOI ABC reports Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight sent a memo to McLean County board members before an anticipated board vote Thursday evening.

The board is expected to decide whether the county should participate in the so-called Heart of Illinois reopening plan for a speedier economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to McKnight, the county doesn’t have the necessary systems in place, nor the resources to safely move forward with the HOI plan, which includes a sub-region of 11 counties, including Peoria County.

McKnight said none of the other counties have adopted the HOI plan, so McLean County would be moving forward on its own.

“Without the necessary systems and resources in place, we cannot assure the safe reopening as proposed by that plan, and I have some concerns about how moving forward as a single county could impact our relationship with the State,” McKnight said.

“No matter the approach McLean County takes, as we reopen, we are likely to see increases in positive cases of COVID-19 as well as clusters and outbreaks that will require the time and expertise of McLean County Health Department (MCHD) staff,” McKnight also said.

“The MCHD has been able to manage our response to COVID-19 up to this point,” she said.

“Going out on our own, and against the Governor, leaves McLean County vulnerable to repercussions, including potential loss of state funding,” said McKnight.

The HOI sub-region is composed of McLean, Peoria, Woodford, Tazewell, Putnam, Marshall, Livingston, LaSalle, Bureau, Stark, and Fulton Counties.

Starting Friday, communities like Bloomington are allowing outdoor dining as the state moved to Phase 3 of the governor’s plan. The Bloomington City Council Tuesday night authorized City Manager Tim Gleason to temporarily block off city right-of-ways to allow for businesses to operate outside.

The McLean County Board’s special meeting on the HOI plan is Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

WJBC News 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…