McLean County sees 18th COVID-related death

Posted on September 10, 2020

*The county’s rolling positivty rate went up slightly to 10.2%. (WJBC file photo)*

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Health Department Thursday announced an 18th resident has died from COVID-19 complications.

*The McLean County Health Department reported an 18th COVID-related death. Two residents have died in the last week. (Graphic courtesy McLean County Health Department)*

The patient was a man in his 70s with underlying health conditions, according to MCHD Administrator Jessica McKnight.

McKnight reported 35 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 2,697. There are 1,337 active cases, seven are hospitalized, two in intensive care, and 1,330 are isolating at home.

35 additional people have recovered, bringing that total to 1,342. The county’s rolling positivty rate went up slightly to 10.2%.

Meanwhile, Illinois State University reported 10 more students have tested positive and the school’s rolling positivity rate is 13.9%. Illinois Wesleyan University announced four new cases, bringing their total to 97.

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…