MCHD reports 110 new cases of COVID-19

McLean County Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight reports
110 more McLean County residents tested positive for COVID-19. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – McLean County Health officials report 110 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, increasing the county total to 11,589 confirmed cases.

MCHD reports 24 McLean County residents are hospitalized due to COVID-19 while 73% of ICU beds are in use and 82% of total beds are in use.

McLean County Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight reports 975 people are isolating at home while 10,489 people have been released from isolation and are considered recovered.

More than 177,700 tests have resulted in a cumulative positivity rate of 6.5%. The rolling 7-day positivity rate is 10.9%, up from 10.2% on Wednesday.

Since December 23, health officials have reported 722 new cases of COVID-19.

There have been 101 COVID-related deaths in the county.

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…