McLean County health officials announced another surge in coronavirus cases on Thursday as testing remains in high demand.
The McLean County Health Department reported 13 more cases of COVID-19 to bring the county’s total of confirmed cases to 350. Nearly a quarter of those cases have been recorded since July 5.
However, the number of people requiring hospitalization dropped to three; 53 remain in quarantine.
The county has reported 15 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic; 279 patients have recovered.
The 13 new cases mark the highest single-day total since May amid the outbreak at the Bloomington Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, where 11 people died of COVID-19 and the virus infected dozens of residents and staff.
The county’s seven-day positivity rate remains 2.2%, and the overall positivity rate since the start of the pandemic remains 2% based on about 17,400 tests.
Coronavirus - Testing Positivity Rate
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As the county is in the midst of hiring additional contact tracers, McLean County Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight urges the public to follow the agency's guidance to help contain the virus’ spread.
“If they are identified as a close contact, it is important they stay home and quarantine for the entire 14 days after their most recent exposure and monitor for symptoms, even if they test negative for COVID-19," McKnight said.
Testing continues to be robust at the Interstate Center in Bloomington. The site run by Pekin-based Reditus saw 395 people come for testing on Wednesday. It has averaged more than 400 daily visitors this week.
The testing site is open to the general public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
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