UPDATED 6:30 p.m. | Illinois State University officials said Saturday that someone who tested positive for COVID-19 has become the first "on-campus confirmed case." The university declined to say whether it was a student, faculty, or staff member, citing "patient privacy."
The McLean County Health Department notified ISU about the person on Saturday, ISU officials said.
"The McLean County Health Department is following protocol and contacting those who had close contact with the individual in recent days and advising them of precautions to take," the university said. "Federal health privacy laws prevent sharing any other information about individuals who have tested positive."
It's unclear if Saturday's announcement is connected to the seven ISU students who recently contracted COVID-19 at an off-campus gathering.
Most ISU employees are working from home, and there are very few students who remain on campus. Students have essentially been kept away since March 6 and completed the rest of the semester online. ISU President Larry Dietz said in mid-March that around 260 students were still living on campus at that time, but that number has likely changed since then.
Three More Cases In McLean County
Meanwhile, three more confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported Saturday in McLean County, bringing the local total to 115 people.
The new cases were three males: one in his 20s, and two in their 40s. All are currently isolating at home, according to the McLean County Health Department.
There are now 25 active cases — two people are hospitalized, and 23 others are isolating at home. That's the highest active case count since April 14. The vast majority have recovered.
Many of the newest cases appear to be part of the seven ISU students who recently contracted COVID-19 at the gathering in late April or early May. People in their 20s now represent the most number of confirmed cases in McLean County, with 24 of the 115 cases (21%).
Another possible reason for the increase in new cases is that more people are being tested locally. Around 813 people were tested between May 2 and May 8 at Bloomington's drive-up site at the Interstate Center, according to data released by the McLean County Emergency Management Agency. That's the highest weekly total since the site opened March 28.
Testing numbers increased starting April 29 when the site's criteria changed to allow more asymptomatic people, including grocery and restaurant workers.
The testing site is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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