71 new cases of COVID in McLean County; 1 additional death

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

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – McLean County health officials Thursday reported another coronavirus-related death, a woman in her 50s, not associated with a long-term care facility. There have been 214 COVID-related deaths in the county.

McLean County added 71 cases of coronavirus as there are 641 cases currently active. 53 McLean County residents are in the hospital due to COVID, the most since the start of the pandemic. McLean County hospitals are reporting 88% of ICU beds and 95% of total beds in use.

The county’s rolling positivity rate inched up to 5.7%. 42 additional people were released from isolation and are considered recovered.

COVID-19 Vaccine

Approximately 94,954 doses have been administered in McLean County. 23% of the county’s population has been fully vaccinated.

Vaccine information from MCHD can be found here.

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…