As the nation’s attention continues to be pulled toward racial unrest, Supreme Court rulings, and the latest White House tell-all book, a group of progressive activists tried Thursday to turn the focus back to COVID-19’s deadly toll in McLean County.
Members of the Progressive Voices of Central Illinois coalition gathered for a vigil Thursday night outside the Bloomington Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, where nine residents and one employee have died after contracting the coronavirus. Fifty-nine people there caught the virus—McLean County’s worst outbreak to date.
The group held signs and marked a moment of silence, followed by a violin solo performed by Jasper Zona.
“We haven’t had normal funeral services for these people,” Zona said. “It’s important for our community to acknowledge these people have passed away. They’re people. They have lives. They have families. They have stories they wanted to tell.”
Indeed, of the 13 people who have died after contracting COVID-19 in McLean County, only two have been publicly identified. They were Bloomington Rehab resident Alana Bourgond, 70, and Pamela L. Hair, 56, a certified nursing assistant at the facility.
About half of Illinois’ 6,537 deaths tied to COVID-19 originated at long-term care facilities, according to Illinois Department of Public Health data. Other facilities in McLean County have seen smaller outbreaks. Heritage Health Normal recently disclosed its second case. An asymptomatic resident at Martin Health Center at Westminster Village recently tested positive.
Progressive Voices of Central Illinois member Dana Niswonger said she wanted to see more local, state, and federal resources dedicated to protecting nursing homes.
“We’re here to mourn and bring attention to the beautiful lives that were lost,” she said.
Progressive Voices of Central Illinois is a coalition of eight progressive, grassroots, and community activism organizations throughout the region.
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