Thursday live updates on coronavirus: Officials ask state to allow sharing of ZIP code
Here is a roundup of coronavirus news you need to know on Thursday:
St. Clair County officials ask state to allow sharing of cases by ZIP code
St. Clair County officials are calling on the Illinois Department of Public Health to allow more specific information about where cases of coronavirus have been confirmed.
County Board Chairman Mark Kern said Thursday he supports a request from the county health department to the IDPH that would allow the counties to show confirmed COVID-19 cases by ZIP code.
“I agree that we should be allowed to do that,” Kern wrote on his Facebook wall. “This virus is affecting our residents regardless of location, gender, race or income.”
As of Wednesday, the county health department had reported 50 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and two deaths. Statewide, according to IDPH, there are 6,980 confirmed cases and 141 deaths.
St. Clair County announces third COVID-19 death
The St. Clair County Health Department announced that a third person has died in the county from complications of coronavirus.
The patient was a man in his 70s who had underlying health conditions, the department said.
The department previously announced the deaths of two patients who tested positive for COVID-19. One woman was in her 80s and the other was in her 30s. Both of them had underlying health conditions.
Officials call on churches to end in-person services as coronavirus spreads
Illinois officials are calling on churches and other places of worship to stop holding in-person services as the state tries to fend off the spread of COVID-19.
Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said Thursday during Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s daily press briefing that reports of in-person services continuing throughout the state.
“I understand the importance of communing with fellow believers but let’s understand kids are home from school, people are some from work, schools and offices are closed, religious houses have to do the same,” she said. “We all must make the sacrifice. Then on the other side of this pandemic, we can gather at the mosque, the synagogue, the church the museum, the library -- all of these places we love.”
Ezike added that services could be held virtually on the web or over the phone. She also reminded that people in rural and southern parts of these state need to take COVID-19 seriously and stay at home.
“Even in the southern and the rural areas of the state the virus is present and they should join their fellow Illinoians in staying home so together we can get back to normal on the other side of this pandemic,” Ezike said. “I may sound like a broken record but these are all things we have to do.”
Ezike also reported 715 new cases of COVID-19 and 16 new virus-related deaths, bringing the state total to 7,695 cases and 157 deaths.
All In Illinois initiative launched to fight COVID-19
At the briefing, Pritzker announced a new state initiative dubbed All In Illinois, to promote staying inside for the health of the state. Pritzker said the initiative calls on everyone who can stay home to do so to protect those most at risk in the state.
“Our strongest weapon against COVID-19 is you,” Pritzker said, calling on Illinoisans to stay at home and urging people to spread the word and visit the state initiative’s new website at www.allin.illinois.gov.
On the site, East St. Louis Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee and other well-known Illinoisans call on Illinois residents to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
We want to protect ourselves, our families and our neighbors, Joyner-Kersee says in the video.
“That’s why I’m all in for Illinois. I’m staying home so that grocery store clerks, the doctors, the nurses, the bus drivers and the police officers can do their job safely as possible.”
Macoupin County announces first case of coronavirus
he Macoupin County Public Health Department announced its first coronavirus case on Thursday evening.
The patient is a woman in her 50s who has tested positive for COVID-19 and is being quarantined in her home, a news release from the department stated.
The department said it has started an investigation of the case by speaking with individuals who the woman may have had contact with before this diagnosis.
Jersey County announces first case of coronavirus
Jersey County’s first case of COVID-19 was announced yesterday.
The Jersey County Health Department announced Wednesday a man in his 50s tested positive for coronavirus and is currently hospitalized.
In a statement, officials with the health department said they are working to identify individuals the man may have come into contact with and encouraged Jersey County residents to continue practicing social distancing and good personal hygiene habits.
Illinois expands services for domestic violence, sexualt assault survivors
The Illinois Department of Human Services announced Thursday it would launch a $1.2 million plan to expand its services for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“While most Illinoisans are adhering to the Stay at Home order, not everyone has a safe home to go to,” Gov. J.B. Prtizker said in a release from the state. “If you are experiencing domestic violence or live in fear of it, I know how much scarier or complicated the message of ‘Stay Home’ might sound.”
The plan expands the role of the Illinois Domestic Violence Helpline by creating a “one-stop” access point for shelter needs, the release stated. Those affected can call the hotline directly at 1-877-863-6338 or 1-877-863-6339 and be connected to shelter through existing Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention shelter services or to emergency shelter through available hotels and motels. People can also contact their local domestic violence programs for shelter assistance.
IDHS said in the release it is also working with the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence to establish an emergency fund to support local providers with assistance needs related to COVID-19.
Existing Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention providers will receive a three-month advance of their current grant to support continuations of services and respond to the needs of domestic violence survivors, such as hotels, emergency supplies, transportation, food, technology supports and other related services.
Grace Hou, IDHS secretary, said that the department expects that during times of crisis, there may be an increase in domestic or sexual violence while there are barriers to resources.
Pritzker calls on Trump to open ACA enrollment in response to COVID-19
Gov. J.B. Pritzker called on President Donald Trump to open a special enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
At his daily briefing on coronavirus Wednesday, Pritzker said people across the country need to have access to healthcare during the pandemic. At the briefing, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, announced 986 new cases and 42 additional deaths, bringing the state case total to 6,980 and death total to 141.
“Now more than ever we need as many people as possible to have access to healthcare to seek out testing,” Pritzker said, “if we’re ever going to able to fight COVID-19 and eliminate it as a risk to our people.”
Pritzker added that there are almost 800,000 people uninsured in Illinois who will need healthcare as COVID-19 continues to spread.
“Over 500,000 of whom could potentially sign up for the ACA tomorrow if the federal government opened up a special enrollment period,” he said.
According to Politico, Trump’s administration has not considered opening a new enrollment window.
Pritzker said not opening the special enrollment period would be like malpractice.
“Some White House officials are saying the president will not be reopening the insurance marketplace in response to the coronavirus,” Pritzker said. “Frankly, this is leadership malpractice.”
Pritzker added that some Illinois residents may already be eligible to enroll in the ACA. Employees that were recently laid off are eligible to enroll, he said.
Unemployment rate was down in metro-east before COVID-19 outbreak
While the unemployment rate decreased in February in all 14 Illinois metropolitan areas, the Illinois Department of Employment Security said it is receiving an unprecedented number of unemployment claims as a result of COVID-19.
On Thursday, the department, along with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, released its preliminary data on unemployment statistics. It showed that the metro-east was among the 14 areas that had seen a decrease in the rate in February 2020 compared to February 2019, going down 1.6 percent over the year.
“This administration is fully committed to the health and safety of our workforce and ensuring our workers can provide for their families in this challenging time,” said Deputy Gov. Dan Hynes. “As we navigate this period of economic uncertainty, we will continue to champion policies that will lift up every Illinoisan while making investments that will help to strengthen our economy.”
The data also showed that the number of non-farm jobs decreased in nine Illinois metropolitan areas and increased in five, with the St. Louis area seeing an increase of 400 jobs in the last year. The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Education and Health Services.
Metro officials ask riders to only use transit for essential trips
Metro Transit officials are “strongly encouraging” riders to only use MetroLink, MetroBus and Metro Call-A-Ride for essential trips in an effort to prevent crowding on transit and better serve essential workers.
Bi-State Development President and CEO Taulby Roach said Wednesday people who don’t need to use transit should avoid doing so in order to support the safety of employees and riders providing critical transportation services.
“We’ve been hearing from hospital workers, grocery store employees and others about how vital transit is to them during this challenging time for our region. They rely on Metro to get them to work and to doctor’s appointments and medical treatments,” Roach said.
Metro officials are asking riders to stay home if they can, stop riding transit if they have any symptoms, adjust transit commute to non-peak travel times and try to keep a safe distance away from operators and passengers while using transit.
Metro also has limited its public transit trips to a modified schedule due to lower ridership and fewer employees available to operate its transit operations.
Triage tent opened at St. Elizabeth Hospital to screen for coronavirus
St. Elizabeth Hospital in O’Fallon has set up triage tents where patients with respiratory symptoms can be screened for coronavirus.
The screening tents minimize risk for other patients at the hospital, hospital officials say.
“We are taking these extra measures in separating possible COVID-19 patients to further protect our community and colleagues,” said Emergency Department Manager Erin Hazen.
According to a statement from the hospital, registration and standard patient intake processes will occur in the tent. If a patient is suspected of having COVID-19 or found to be in severe respiratory distress, they will be taken into the hospital’s emergency department through an alternate door with direct access to a prepared room for further evaluation.
State death toll on the rise
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, these are the latest coronavirus case totals:
▪ Illinois: 7,695 positive cases and 157 deaths; 43,656 persons tested.
Cases in southwestern Illinois increase
The number of COVID-19 cases in southwestern Illinois has increased to 119 according to state and local statistics on Thursday.
Here’s a breakdown of the cases:
▪ St. Clair County: 53, three deaths
▪ Madison County: 30
▪ Randolph County: 15
▪ Clinton County: 9
▪ Monroe County: 6
▪ Bond County: 3
▪ Washington County: 1
▪ Jersey County: 1
▪ Macoupin County: 1
Postponed and canceled events
The News-Democrat has compiled a list of events in Illinois and St. Louis that have been canceled due to concerns about coronavirus.
You can find the list at BND.com.
Want to help? Here’s what you need to know
The BND has compiled a list of ways you can help during the coronavirus pandemic.
Go to BND. com to learn about the opportunities to volunteer your time or donate to help communities in the metro-east without putting yourself or others at risk.
You can sew face masks, read stories for people with vision loss and deliver meals to seniors.
If you know of a recognized charitable organization looking for help that isn’t listed, please tell us about it; send an email to newsroom@bnd.com or fill out the BND’s Southwest Illinois coronavirus service and assistance guide online at BND.com.
Get the latest news on coronavirus
BND.com will keep you updated through the day with information about the spread of coronavirus through southwestern Illinois.
You can also find the most complete and up-to-date information from government sites including:
▪ State of Illinois’ coronavirus page: coronavirus.illinois.gov
▪ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/summary.html
▪ Federal government’s coronavirus page: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
How to contact the BND with tips, concerns
If you have suggestions about something for the BND to cover regarding the coronavirus pandemic or if you see a report that sounds suspicious on social media or anywhere else, please drop us a note at newsroom@bnd.com and include a link. We’ll check it out.
If you’re a health care worker, we’d like to hear from you
The BND would like to speak with nurses, doctors and other health care professionals who are on the front lines caring for patients in doctor’s offices, clinics and hospitals during this difficult time. We’re interested in hearing about your challenges and rewards, frustrations and accomplishments. How is this affecting you? Send us an email at newsroom@bnd.com.
Recovering from COVID-19? The BND would like to talk to you
Have you recovered from coronavirus or are you in the process of recovering from COVID-19? We would like to hear from you on how you dealt with the respiratory disease. Send us an email at newsroom@bnd.com.
This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Thursday live updates on coronavirus: Officials ask state to allow sharing of ZIP code."
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