WGLT
McLean County reported its biggest surge in new coronavirus case since mid-May on Wednesday with 130 new weekly cases.
The McLean County Health Department (MCHD) also announced one of its youngest COVID-related deaths to date: a woman in her 30s who was not associated with long-term care.
The health department also said it will resume daily COVID-19 updates on weekdays.
MCHD urges the public to follow the CDC’s new guidance that calls for fully vaccinated people to wear masks in indoor public settings in areas where there is significant or high coronavirus spread. McLean County meets the definition for “substantial” community spread, with a seven-day average of 62 new cases per 100,000 residents.
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Bloomington Public Works Director Kevin Kothe shares a map of planned resurfacing projects, during Bloomington City Council s virtual meeting Monday, May 24, 2021.
The Bloomington City Council Monday night approved spending the bulk of its annual roadwork budget on a $5.1 million street resurfacing plan.
Also during the virtual meeting, the council voted to bring the Bloomington Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to downtown and learned how the city plans to share $700,000 in federal housing assistance grants.
The council voted unanimously for Rowe Construction, part of United Contractors Midwest, to complete the resurfacing. Technical bidding requirements were waived.
Public Works Director Kevin Kothe said while last year’s resurfacing focused on major stretches such as Hershey and Six Points roads, this upcoming project list is much longer, as crews will hit more neighborhood streets.
WGLT
Unit 5 will host its first vaccination clinic for students age 12 and older next Wednesday. A second clinic is planned for June 9.
There is pent-up demand for COVID vaccines for Bloomington-Normal children. The Unit 5 school district says the first planned clinic for kids over the age of 12 filled up in less than a day.
An email went out to parents at 4 p.m. Tuesday about the phone-in reservations. By the next morning, the clinic was booked.
More than 200 children will get their first shot of the Pfizer vaccine on Wednesday, May 19, at Kingsley Junior High School. A second clinic is scheduled for June 9.
The Bloomington City Council meets remotely, Monday, May 10, 2021.
Bloomington plans to reopen all city facilities June 1 or 2 as part of the state’s bridge to Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois Plan, City Manager Tim Gleason told the city council on Monday.
Gov. JB Pritzker announced last week the month-long “bridge” will begin Friday. The transition aims to return Illinois to normal operations and capacities by June 11.
In other pandemic-related news, Gleason told the council the first half of Bloomington’s $14 million due from the latest federal COVID-relief package arrives this week, and the state will begin a rental assistance grant program next week. The council voted unanimously to eliminate late payment penalties for water bills through Phase 4.