3 additional COVID-related deaths reported in McLean County

The county’s rolling positivity rate inched up to 5.7%. (Graphic courtesy McLean County Health Department)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Health Department Tuesday reported three more coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the number of lives lost to 213.

MCHD says the three additional deaths include three men: one in his 60s and one in his 70s, neither associated with long-term care; one in his 90s associated with long-term care.

The county added 53 cases of coronavirus as there are 589 active cases. 44 McLean County residents are in the hospital due to COVID and the rest are in home isolation. McLean County hospitals are reporting 88% of ICU beds in use and 96% of total beds in use.

The county’s rolling positivity rate inched up to 5.7%. 67 additional people were released from isolation and are considered recovered.

COVID-19 Vaccine (Johnson & Johnson Paused)

With the CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommending a pause for Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine over a few reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot, the McLean County Health Department has paused the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until further notice.  The vaccine clinic scheduled for Tuesday at Illinois Wesleyan University has been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date. The MCHD and IWU have sent out notifications to those who were scheduled to receive the vaccine.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was not scheduled to be administered at any of the clinics at Grossinger Motors Arena this week. All other clinics posted on the MCHD website will continue as planned.

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…