By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Health Department announced seven new people have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the county to 38.
“We do anticipate that our numbers are going to continue either at the same rate or increase slightly over the next couple days and weeks,” said McLean County Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight. “We see increased testing. This is the message that we want the public to take away, is that we do that COVID-19 is in the community. We know it’s in the community in people who may not show symptoms yet, and so in all of our interactions with one another, we should be treating ourselves like we may have it.”
Of the 38 people, 23 remain in home isolation, with seven fully recovered from COVID-19. The health department report that six people remain in the hospital.
McLean County Health officials say over 300 McLean County residents have been tested for COVID-19, with the McLean County Fairgrounds averaging over 100 tests per day. However, officials are seeing a decrease in those getting tested at the Fairgrounds, with a total of 87 tests was conducted on Thursday.
“We are seeing a decrease in the numbers, but I do believe that we are averaging 100 tests per day since the facility opened,” Dion McNeal, McLean County Communications Specialists said.
The health department reports that of the 38 cases, 65.8% or women, and 34.2% are men.
In DeWitt and Piatt County, the total cases remain at two. DeWitt/Piatt Bi-County Health Department Administrator David Remmert said one case was in DeWitt County, and the other was in Piatt County.
“It’s kind of interesting because it came almost at the exact same time that we got the results for both of those cases. The individual in DeWitt County is a 52-year old female; she is recovering with her family at home; they are quarantined all together. (She has) not symptoms today. The Piatt County individual was a 22-year old health care worker, so she was exposed on the job. She has not had symptoms for a couple of days, and according to the guidance we are following, she should be able to go back to work on Monday, I believe.”
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
