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

MCHD Reports 133 New Cases; Active Caseload Rises

Staff / WGLT
McLean County health officials on Wednesday reported 133 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

McLean County health officials on Wednesday reported 133 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, after taking Election Day off from crunching the numbers.

Thirty-three of the new cases are from Tuesday, said the McLean County Health Department (MCHD). Wednesday’s new caseload is 99.

Currently, there are 10 people hospitalized, down two from the start of the week. No one is in intensive care. Another 458 people are isolating at home. The active caseload of 468 is the highest recorded since Sept. 22.

The county’s testing positivity rate (7-day rolling) is now 5.8%, up from 5.1% on Monday. The death toll remains at 38.

The medical region that includes McLean County has logged nine straight days of positivity increases. The Illinois Department of Public Health last reported a positivity rate of 9.9% on Oct. 31.

New mitigations meant to slow the spread of the virus took effect Wednesday in Region 2 that includes McLean County. The state is ordering an end to indoor service at bars and restaurants. Gatherings are supposed to be limited to fewer than 25 people.

Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner is joining the chorus of local leaders pushing back against the restrictions. In a letter dated Tuesday, Renner made the case that Bloomington should be exempt.

“Overall, the city has done better than many communities in Illinois in terms of infection rates and other factors,” he wrote. “These new mitigations have been placed on Bloomington using limited metrics and based on the statistics of some of our neighbors in the region, not our city.”

Renner praised the creativity of restaurant owners in handling the challenges of the pandemic, adding the city will continue to refer complaints to MCHD.

Normal Mayor Chris Koos previously told WGLT that stopping COVID’s spread is a matter of personal discipline, particularly related to gatherings.

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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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