McLean County health officials announced 18 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday even as the county's testing positivity rate drops amid record testing.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in McLean County has reached 504 since the start of the pandemic, according to data from the McLean County Health Department (MCHD).
The number of active cases has grown to 80, including three people who are hospitalized and 77 who are isolating at home. Fifteen patients have died and 409 people have been released from quarantine and are considered recovered.
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The county’s seven-day testing positivity rate inched downward to 1.8%, while the testing rate since the start of the pandemic is 2.1% based on more than 24,000 tests.
The COVID-19 testing site at the Interstate Center in Bloomington has set new daily records each of the last three days. According the McLean County Emergency Management Agency, 622 people were tested at the site on Wednesday. The site has averaged nearly 400 daily tests since July 6.
The testing site, run by Pekin-based Reditus, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Avoiding stigma
MCHD Administrator Jessica McKnight said fear and anxiety about a disease can lead to social stigma, adding it can lead to labeling, stereotyping and other negative behaviors that could cause some people to not get tested for the coronavirus.
“Stigma can be heightened by insufficient knowledge about how COVID-19 is transmitted and treated, and how to prevent infection,” McKnight said.
To combat this, McKnight calls on the community to maintain privacy and confidentiality of those seeking health care and those who may be part of any contact investigation, correct negative language and share accurate information, support health care workers and promote mental health and other social support services for people who may have experienced stigma.
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