McLean County hospitalizations increase; 158 new coronavirus cases

Posted on September 2, 2020
The McLean County Health Department has reported over 750 new confirmed cases in the last seven days. (Graphic courtesy McLean County Health Department)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Health Department Wednesday reported 158 new COVID-19 cases as the number of people in the hospital went up.

There are nine people hospitalized, up from three on Tuesday, with three currently in the ICU, according to MCHD Administrator Jessica McKnight.

“As we see an increase in hospitalizations it is important to remember that even young healthy individuals can have complications from the virus, and some may even need to be hospitalized,” said McKnight. “Hospitalizations are a lagging indicator, often behind new infections by about a week. McLean County has seen over 750 new confirmed cases of COVID in the last seven days.”

Mcknight said MCHD continues to monitor several key indicators that measure the health burden of COVID-19. The target indicators include new cases, number of deaths, positivity rates, testing, and hospital availability.

At this time 828 are isolating at home and 127 additional people have recovered, bringing that total to 1,143. There have been 16-COVID related deaths.

The county’s rolling seven-day positivity rate dropped to 10.1%, the first time it has gone down in nearly two weeks.

Meanwhile, 87 additional students at Illinois State University have tested positive for COVID, the university’s total now 1,110. ISU’s rolling positivity rate is 24.2%. Illinois Wesleyan University Tuesday announced two more students tested positive, bringing IWU’s total to 77.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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