50 new COVID cases in McLean County; Rolling positivity rate above 8%

McLean County’s overall positivity rate is 3%. (WJBC file photo)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – McLean County’s rolling positivity rate is now over 8% as local health officials Wednesday announced 50 new cases of coronavirus.

Graphic courtesy McLean County Health Department

McLean County Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight said there are 454 active cases, four people are still hospitalized, and 450 are isolating at home. 39 additional people have recovered from the virus, bringing that total to 766, and there have been 16 COVID-related deaths.

McKnight said the county’s rolling seven-day positivity rate is 8.2%, above the statewide rate of 4.1%.

“The McLean County Health Department continues to monitor several key indicators that measure the health burden of COVID-19 and capture our county’s ability to respond,” said McKnight. “The target indicators include new cases, number of deaths, positivity rates, testing, and hospital availability.  We have been keeping a close eye on these data indicators and sharing situational updates with our local leaders to help them make informed decisions about when it might be appropriate to implement additional precautions.”

The age breakdown for the new cases:

  • 1-9 years: 2
  • 18-19: 15
  • 20s: 28
  • 30s: 1
  • 40s: 4

So far this week, McLean County has added 290 new cases, bringing the total to 1,236 cases.

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…