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

Cautionary Closure At Destihl As Community COVID Hits Weekly Record

A picture of a brewery
Destihl Brewery
McLean County set a weekly record for new confirmed coronavirus cases Saturday.

McLean County’s largest commercial brewery has temporarily closed associated restaurants because one of its employees has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Destihl said Saturday on social media its restaurant and beer hall are closed for employee testing and facility cleaning because a worker at its Towanda Avenue location tested positive. As with many recent cases in McLean County, travel outside the community is the source of the positive test.

Most health experts say patrons of restaurants that have an employee test positive are at low risk for coronavirus infection. A general guideline of risk is if a person has sustained contact of more than 15 minutes. Few diners meet that threshold, but co-workers can, depending on the circumstances.

Destihl is not the first McLean County dining establishment to take such a temporary measure. The Korean restaurant Seoul Mama briefly closedearlier this month because a worker came in contact with someone who was in close contact to an infected person. Flinger's Pizza and Buffalo Wild Wingsin Bloomington have reportedly made similar moves.

Mystic Kitchen in downtown Bloomington has closed its indoor dining room "due to concerns in the local restaurant community."

A graphic of current cases
Credit McLean Couty Health Department
Saturday confirmed cases of COVID-18 increased by 10 in McLean County.

The McLean County Health Department continues to record significant numbers of new confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 10 more on Saturday. There have been 83 new cases in the past week--a weekly record. There have been 192 new cases since July 1. That's a 73% increase.

There are now 74 active cases, including three hospitalizations (one person in ICU) and 71 people isolating at home.

The county's testing positivity rate for McLean County over the past week is 2.6%. It is 2.2% since the start of the pandemic.

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Editor's Note: This story has been changed to add information about Flinger's, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Mystic Kitchen.

We’re living in unprecedented times when information changes by the minute. WGLT will continue to be here for you, keeping you up-to-date with the live, local and trusted news you need. Help ensure WGLT can continue with its in-depth and comprehensive COVID-19 coverage as the situation evolves by making a contribution.

WGLT Senior Reporter Charlie Schlenker has spent more than three award-winning decades in radio. He lives in Normal with his family.
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