ISU reports 273 students have tested positive for COVID

Posted on August 24, 2020
ISU students not experiencing symptoms can be tested at the Old Fire House, 602 N. Adelaide St., Normal, or the ISU Quad between Schroeder and Edwards. Those with symptoms can be tested at Student Health Services. (Twitter/Illinois State)

 

By Neil Doyle

NORMAL – Since the first day of classes last week, 273 students at Illinois State University have tested positive for coronavirus.

ISU spokesperson Eric Jome said there have been 1,496 tests administered on campus since Aug. 17. That includes symptomatic, asymptomatic, and athlete testing conducted for athletics.

Students who test positive are asked to return home to quarantine and isolate. Limited numbers of isolation and quarantine spaces are available in on-campus housing for those who must remain on campus due to extenuating circumstances. Students not experiencing symptoms can be tested at the old fire house, 602 N. Adelaide St., or the ISU Quad between Schroeder and Edwards. Those with symptoms can be tested at Student Health Services.

The university launched an online public dashboard to track testing numbers on campus.

Meanwhile, McLean County health officials Monday announced 99 new cases of COVID-19, with most being in the ages of 18-29.

Neil Doyle 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…