49th COVID death reported in McLean County; Rolling positivity rate drops over weekend

The county’s rolling positivity rate dropped to 8.3% from 10% on Friday. (WJBC file photo)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Health Department Monday reported the county’s 49th COVID-related death.

MCHD Administrator Jessica McKnight said the patient was a woman in her 90s associated with a long-term care facility.

Local health officials announced 321 new cases from over the weekend. There are 17 McLean County residents currently hospitalized and 1,417 are isolating at home. There are over 50 people currently hospitalized in the county with COVID-19. Local hospitals are reporting 84% of ICU beds in use and 86% of total beds in use.

The county’s rolling positivity rate fell to 8.3% from 10% on Friday. 270 additional people were released from isolation, now 6,190 have recovered.

The Illinois Department of Public Health and MCHD are recommending that the public stay home as much as possible, leaving only for necessary and essential activities, such as work that must be performed outside the home, COVID-19 testing, visiting the pharmacy, and buying groceries.

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…