MCHD reports 6 additional COVID-related deaths; Positivity rate over 11%

Posted on December 1, 2020
There are 1,337 people in home isolation and 20 McLean County residents are currently hospitalized. (WJBC file photo)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – McLean County health officials Tuesday reported six additional coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the number of lives lost to 56.

A man and woman in their 70s, a woman in her 80s, and two women and a man in their 90s have died, according to MCHD Administrator Jessica McKnight. Three of the people were associated with long-term care facilities.

“Hospitalizations and deaths are a lagging indicator,” said McKnight. “It is often anticipated that an increase in reported hospitalizations and deaths could follow several weeks after a surge of new infections.”

MCHD reported over 4,000 new cases of COVID in November. The county added 101 new cases Tuesday as the rolling positivity rate rose to 11.3%.

There are 1,337 people in home isolation and 20 McLean County residents are currently hospitalized. Local hospitals are reporting 88% of ICU beds in use and 94% of total beds in use. 225 additional people were released from isolation, now 7,268 have recovered.

Health officials are asking people to stay home, wash your hands, wear your mask, and watch your distance.

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…