MCHD: “We are approaching the peak of that curve” after COVID-19 cases increase to 63

Posted on April 8, 2020
McLean County Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight (center) and McLean County Health Department Communication Specialist Dion McNeal (left). (Photo courtesy: Blake Haas/WJBC)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – A day after the McLean County Health Department announced the most cases since the COVID-19 pandemic began, health officials announced one new case moving the county total to 63 confirmed cases.

“We are actually in the acceleration phase, so we are approaching the peak of that curve in this moment and the next couple of weeks,” Jessica McKnight McLean County Health Department Administrator said. “The one case if you are still looking at the total numbers is still increasing overall. It is likely due to just reporting and what time those cases come in. Yesterday we saw 14, and today we saw one.”

Of the 63 cases, 30 remain in home isolation, 25 have fully recovered, and six remain hospitalized with three in the ICU.

McLean County Health Department Communications Specialists Dion McNeal reports 650 McLean County residents have been tested for COVID-19. However, federal funding for the McLean County Fairgrounds COVID-19 testing site ends April 10.

“We are aware that after the 10th, the federal support for that will no longer be available. It will be up to the Illinois Department of Public Health to figure out if these community-based testing sites like ours will continue to run.”

(Photo courtesy: McLean County Health Department)

During his daily press briefing heard on AM 1230 WJBC, Gov. Pritzker announced 1,529 new cases of COVID-19 and 82 deaths, moving the state total to 15,078 cases and 462 deaths.

Blake Haas 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…