Brady: Bloomington’s COVID-19 testing site will remain open

Posted on May 13, 2020
The drive-thru testing site at the McLean County Fairgrounds was supposed to close Thursday. (Facebook/McLean County Emergency Management Agency)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – The COVID-19 drive-through testing site in Bloomington was supposed to close this week, but now it will remain open through May 22.

That’s according to a news release Wednesday from State Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington). Brady said that through negotiations with the Governor’s office, he was able to delay this week’s planned closure of the testing site through May 22.

“Since this testing facility opened in late March, nearly 5,000 local residents have been tested there,” said Brady. “Thankfully we have flattened the curve, and now as hospitals and surgery centers are beginning to again schedule elective surgeries, local doctors are depending on testing to ensure the continued safety of patients and medical personnel.”

The Illinois Department of Public Health said the site would close Thursday because it was being under-utilized. According to IDPH, the testing site at the McLean County Fairgrounds is only averaging 103 tests per day, while the facility can test 250 people per day.

The McLean County Emergency Management Agency said on Tuesday and Wednesday, the site hit its testing capacity.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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