McLean County adds 18 new cases of COVID; Governor makes stop in Peoria

McLean County’s seven-day rolling positivity rate is 1.8%. (Graphic courtesy McLean County Health Department)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – McLean County health officials on Thursday announced 18 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the county total to 504.

Of those cases, three people are currently hospitalized and 77 are in home isolation. Local health officials said 409 people have recovered from the virus and there have been 15 lives lost. McLean County’s overall positivity rate is 2.1%.

Meanwhile, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced 1,772 new cases of coronavirus and 18 additional deaths.

The state’s seven-day rolling positivity rate remained 3.8%, but Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday gave a warning while visiting Peoria.

“Peoria is just one of four counties out of 102 that is now on the warning level by the state’s public health department, because you have an increasing level of emergency department visits and an increase in COVID-19 cases,” said Pritzker. “Much of the increase in cases have been tied to the 29 and under age population.”

Peoria County is in Region 2 of the state’s mitigation plan, which includes McLean County. The governor said if the region continues to see an increase in cases and hospitalizations over the next few days, the region would have to move backwards in the reopening plan.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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