MCHD reports 48th COVID-related death; 178 new cases

There have been 1,136 new cases reported in McLean County over the last week. (Graphic courtesy McLean County Health Department)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – A McLean County man in his 80s has died from coronavirus complications.

McLean County Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight said the man was not associated with a long-term care facility. There have been 48 coronavirus-related deaths in the county.

As of Friday, there are 15 McLean County residents currently hospitalized, but there are currently over 50 individuals hospitalized in McLean County for COVID-19. Local hospitals are reporting 94% of ICU beds in use and 91% of total beds in use.

There are 1,369 people in home isolation while 345 additional people have been released from isolation, now 5,920 have recovered. The county’s rolling positivity rate fell to 10%.

MCHD reported 178 new cases, brining the total of of probable and confirmed cases to 7,352. There have been 1,136 new cases reported over the last week. An age breakdown of the new cases:

  • Under 1: 6
  • 1-17: 121
  • 18-19: 58
  • 20s: 277
  • 30s: 171
  • 40s: 164
  • 50s: 136
  • 60s: 109
  • 70s: 54
  • 80s: 29
  • 90s: 11

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…