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

McLean County COVID Positivity Rate Rises With 43 New Cases

COVID testing on the Quad
Emily Bollinger
/
WGLT
McLean County announced 43 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.

McLean County’s COVID-19 testing positivity rate rose to 7.4% on Tuesday as the county announced 43 new coronavirus cases.
Thirty-one of those cases involve people ages 18 to 29, seven people in their 30s and one under the age of 10.

McLean County COVID-19 data
Credit McLean County Health Department
The McLean County Health Department announced 43 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.

The McLean County Health Department (MCHD) reported a new high in active cases (443) with four patients in the hospital and 439 patients isolating at home.

According to the department, 727 patients have completed their time in quarantine and are considered recovered. The county has had 16 COVID-related deaths.

The recent spike in cases has come largely from people ages 18 to 29 becoming infected, as college students have returned to Bloomington-Normal for the fall semester.

The county’s cumulative positivity rate is 2.9% since the start of the pandemic, based on more than 40,900 tests.

MCHD plans to meet with government and university officials on Tuesday to discuss the community’s COVID-19 response.

As McLean County ramps up contact tracing capacity to handle the surge in active cases, MCHD Administrator Jessica McKnight said the community should work to reduce fear and anxiety about COVID-19, which she said can lead to social stigma.

“Stigma can lead to labeling, stereotyping and other negative behaviors toward others,” McKnight said in a news release. “Stigma can be heightened by insufficient knowledge about how COVID-19 is transmitted and treated and not to prevent infection.”

McKnight urged the community to maintain privacy and confidentiality of people seeking health care services, and those who be part of any contact investigation.

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Eric Stock is the News Director at WGLT. You can contact Eric at ejstoc1@ilstu.edu.
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