MCHD reports 14 new cases of COVID-19

Posted on July 24, 2020
McLean County’s overall positivity rate is 2.2% while the rolling seven-day positivity rate is 2.5%. (WJBC file photo)

 

By AJ Harris

BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Health Department on Friday announced 14 new cases of coronavirus as the county continues to see an uptick in cases, bringing the total number to 443.

Graphic courtesy McLean County Health Department

According to local health officials, there are three people currently hospitalized, with one in the ICU, and 68 are in home isolation. There are 357 people that have recovered from the virus and there have been 15 COVID-related deaths in the county.

McLean County’s overall positivity rate is 2.2% while the rolling seven-day positivity rate is 2.5%.

“While we continue to see community spread of the virus we are starting to see more of our cases able to identify an exposure to someone else that has tested COVID-19 positive,” said MCHD Administrator Jessica McKnight. “The majority of our recently reported known exposure is travel-related or in household contacts to someone that has tested positive for COVID-19.”

The MCHD rolled out a mobile testing site Thursday in Colfax and saw 35 people tested. The next mobile set will be set up in Leroy on July 30.

Meanwhile, the Illinois Department of Public Health on Friday announced 1,532 new cases and 19 additional deaths. The seven-day statewide rolling positivity rate is 3.4%.

AJ Harris 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…