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WGLT's reporting on the coronavirus pandemic, which began in McLean County in March 2020.

McLean County COVID Positivity Rate Ticks Up; 66 New Cases Confirmed

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The McLean County Health Department reports 66 new confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases. That comes from a batch of about 700 test results returned overnight. Drive-thru coronavirus testing remains available at the Interstate Center.

McLean County’s COVID-19 testing positivity rate ticked up slightly to 7.5%, as health officials reported 66 new cases Thursday. That brings the total number of confirmed and probable cases to 13,310 since the start of the pandemic.The active caseload has been on the decline for nearly two weeks straight. The number of people from McLean County hospitalized with COVID-19 held at 22. Another 599 are isolating at home, while 118 others are now considered recovered.

Overall hospital bed capacity remained unchanged overnight. Fewer than one in four total beds are open (23%). However, intensive care bed capacity worsened slightly. About 65% of intensive care beds are in use, up from 58% on Wednesday.

The McLean County Health Department (MCHD) reported no new deaths on Thursday. The death toll since the start of the pandemic stands at 136.

Testing at Illinois State University turned up three new confirmed cases Wednesday. ISU has reported 73 total cases since students returned to campus.

Meanwhile, Illinois Wesleyan University confirmed two new cases on Wednesday. There have been six confirmed cases on campus since the start of the spring semester.

Currently, there are 12 open outbreaks at McLean County long-term care facilities. Heritage Health of Normal has experienced the deadliest outbreak, with 23 COVID-related deaths and 150 confirmed cases, according to Illinois Department of Public Health data.

The McLean County Nursing Home logs 89 cases and 12 deaths. Sugar Creek Alzheimer Care has seen 44 cases and 10 deaths during its open outbreak.

Coronavirus - Testing Positivity Rate
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Dana Vollmer is a reporter with WGLT. Dana previously covered the state Capitol for NPR Illinois and Peoria for WCBU.
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