Rolling positivity rate drops below 2%; McLean County adds 7 new cases of coronavirus

As for COVID-19 vaccines, 35,417 doses have been administered in McLean County. (WJBC file photo)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – McLean County’s rolling positivity rate inched down to 1.9% as local health officials Tuesday reported seven new cases of coronavirus.

Graphic courtesy McLean County Health Department

It’s the first time the county’s rolling positivity rate has been below 2% since mid-August. The last time the health department reported daily case numbers in the single digits was back in September.

There are 17 McLean County residents in the hospital due to COVID and 171 are in home isolation, according to MCHD. McLean County hospitals are reporting 85% of ICU beds and 95% of total beds in use.

Another 34 residents were released from isolation and are considered to be recovered. There have been 170 COVID-related deaths in the county.

As for COVID vaccines, 35,417 doses have been administered in McLean County. The Illinois Department of Public Health has a dashboard on its website that tracks vaccine delivered and administered in the state.

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…