Coronavirus

The Illinois High School Association has invited Gov. JB Pritzker’s office and representatives from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to discuss the association’s plans to hold a basketball season this winter, against the state’s recommendation.

Bloomington-Normal’s hospitals are urging the public to follow public health guidance as they see more and more patients being admitted due to COVID-19.

McLean County health officials announced 167 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday as the county topped 1,000 active cases for the first time since September, following outbreaks on the Illinois State University campus after students returned to campus.

Two more people from McLean County have died from COVID-related complications, as the county’s testing positivity rate climbed to its highest level in almost two months.

UPDATED 5:25 p.m. | The McLean County Health Department on Friday reported 118 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, as the county’s testing positivity rate climbed to 7.5%.

Gov. JB Pritzker warned Thursday that additional social and economic restrictions may need to be imposed statewide in the near future if the surge in new COVID-19 cases continues on its current path.

A McLean County woman in her 30s is the latest person to die from COVID-19 related complications.

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

UPDATED 4:30 p.m. | McLean County health officials announced a 38th death due to coronavirus complications on Friday as the county’s seven-day testing positivity rate topped 6%, potentially putting the region closer to further mitigations.

McLean County’s seven-day testing positivity rate for the coronavirus has topped 5% for the first time since a late summer surge tied to Illinois State University students’ return to campus.

There have been multiple lockdowns in a Pekin federal prison to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in the facility, with many inmates losing contact with families during the times they are confined to their cells.

And the family of one inmate said the impact on the family and the inmate is high.

The Small Business Development Center at Illinois Wesleyan University has seen improvement in the last three months after a big drop in activity during the early part of the pandemic.

A 34th McLean County resident has died from COVID-19 complications. The woman in her 80s was a resident of a long-term care facility.

UPDATED 4:45 p.m. | McLean County reported two more COVID-related deaths of nursing home residents on Friday, bringing the county’s death toll from the coronavirus to 33.

McLean County health officials announced 34 new confirmed coronavirus cases Thursday as the county’s seven-day testing positivity rate rose to 4.4%.

McLean County’s COVID-19 testing positivity rate has stabilized after a late summer spike, but the rate for the 20-county region is approaching a level that could lead to restrictions.