Thursday live coronavirus updates: U.S. gives Illinois health centers $51 million
Here is a roundup of coronavirus news you need to know on Thursday:
St. Clair County announces two more COVID-19 deaths
Two more people have died from coronavirus complications in St. Clair County, officials announced Thursday.
The patients were a man in his 60s with an unknown medical history and a man in his 90s with underlying health conditions, county health department spokesperson Samantha Bierman said in a livestream with the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency.
The two new deaths bring the regional total to 11. The previous deaths have occurred in St. Clair County, which now has eight; Madison County, which now has two deaths; and Monroe County, which has reported one death.
Institute forecasts coronavirus deaths in Illinois is nearing its peak
A research group forecasting COVID-19 infections and deaths across the country has estimated that Illinois will reach its peak on Sunday while also reducing its estimate on how many in the state might die from the virus.
Maintaining social distancing standards for several more weeks, however, remains key to maintaining the trend it is projecting.
The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation projected earlier this week that if full social distancing takes place through May, 1,588 Illinois residents would die from COVID-19 by Aug. 4, a steep drop from the 3,386 deaths by Aug. 1 it predicted only a week ago.
On the peak day, Sunday, April 12, which is Easter Sunday, the group estimates there will be 91 COVID-19 deaths in Illinois.
In southwestern Illinois, as of Wednesday, a total of 294 cases of coronavirus had been reported, up 57 from Tuesday’s total. Statewide, 462 people have died from the virus as of Wednesday.
Health officials say Illinois is flattening coronavirus curve, but urges caution
Dr. Ngozi Ezike Appointed Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, pleaded with anyone holding out from social distancing and staying at home to do so in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.
While trends indicate that new infections are slowing and forecast models indicate that Illinois is nearing its peak for new cases and deaths, Ezike used her time during Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s daily press briefing to warn that now is not the time to relax social distancing standards and stay-at-home rules.
“It’s irresponsible to not take the necessary precaution to protect not only yourself but the people around you,” she said. “I’ve heard of people saying ‘oh I’m young, I’ll be fine,’” she said. “That’s not enough because while you might be fine the person you might infect may not be fine.”
Ezike, after reporting 66 additional deaths and 1,344 coronavirus cases in Illinois, said that Illinoisans should continue to take extra precautionary steps to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
“The guidance remains the same,” Ezike said. “We know that anybody can catch this virus which means anyone can transmit it.”
She said those who believe that they or their significant others are not at risk to think of the possible deaths further spread of COVID-19 could cause.
“To the few who think that this is not something to act on, think beyond yourself and think beyond your immediate family,” she said. “If you think that nobody is at high risk remember that there are those who contract that virus from your could literally end their lives.”
Illinois State Police, ministers want you to stay home for Easter to fight coronavirus
Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly and church ministers on Thursday urged all persons of faith to obey Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order to stay at home this week of Easter and Passover to prevent the spread of the coronavirus that has caused 462 deaths across the state as of Wednesday.
Bishop Henry Phillips of the Power of Change Christian Church in Cahokia said religious leaders and their followers need to break traditions this week and stay home to help save lives.
In southwestern Illinois, nine people have died in COVID-19-related cases.
Phillips and three other ministers spoke during a news conference at the Illinois State Police District 11 headquarters in Collinsville. They suggested residents watch religious services online this week instead of gathering in places of worship.
Easter and Passover are important occasions usually marked with large crowds but Phillips said, “With COVID-19, those traditions have to be broken.”
“It’s not as many have said, ‘Well, this is the state impeding upon the church.’ This is not an issue of separation of church and state. It’s a separation of life and death,” Phillips said.
Illinois health centers to receive more than $51 million from federal government
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Illinois with $51.6 million for 45 health centers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Health center awardees in Illinois may use these funds to help their communities detect coronavirus; prevent, diagnose, and treat COVID-19; and maintain or increase health capacity and staffing levels to address this public health emergency,” the department said in a news release Wednesday.
The funds come as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 27.
One of the 45 health centers that will receive funding is Southern Illinois Health Care Foundation, Inc. in East St. Louis, which has been allocated $2,311,505.\
Missouri schools to remain closed through end of school year
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced all public and charter school will remain closed through the end of the school year.
Parson initially ordered all schools to close on March 21 in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“We are ordering all Missouri public and charter schools to remain closed through the remainder of the academic year with the exceptions of nutrition and child care services that are outlined in our recent health order,” he wrote in a Facebook post.”
The Archdiocese of St. Louis also announced in-person classes would be canceled through the end of the semester as well.
Illinois may start producing its own COVID-19 testing materials
Illinois had not achieved its goal of having 10,000 COVID-19 tests made in the state by Wednesday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said.
Production just surpassed the 6,000-test threshold, despite promises of more the governor made 10 days ago.
Pritzker further said the state will not meet its goal by the end of the week. Scientists and other experts have recommended Illinois issue 10,000 tests to get the clearest picture of how prominent the virus is within the state.
Illinois had acquired five high-value automated machines that are supposed to process 200 tests per hour, Pritzker said, adding that the equipment has been distributed across the state’s three testing laboratories.
Pritzker said these extractors were expected to increase testing output by thousands per day, but have fallen short both in quantity and in accuracy.
“More importantly, the tests are not producing valid results that meets our exacting standards,” Pritzker said. “I am as imaptient as the rest of you are in wanting to increase testing, but I will not sacrifice accuracy for speed.”
Prtizker said researchers at the state’s universities would work to begin increasing testing capacity statewide — including producing its own materials.
“Our labs are creating our own raw materials instead of relying on the global supply chain, which is in disarray,” he said.
Schnucks no longer accepting reusable bags
Schnucks Markets announced Wednesday it would temporarily stop accepting reusable bags in its grocery stores amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The new policy will begin Thursday, the company said in a news release. While there are no known cases of the virus spreading through reusable bags, the company said it would take the step as a precaution.
In the release, Schnucks also said it would encourage customers to wear face masks that cover their nose and mouth inside its stores.
On Sunday, Schnucks announced it would limit customers inside the store to one per household.
St. Louis region blood bank will begin accepting donations from recovered COVID-19 patients
The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, based in Earth City, Missouri, announced Wednesday it would begin collecting donations of plasma from patients who have recovered from coronavirus.
“The plasma will contain antibodies that can help seriously ill patients with a COVID-19 infection,” the center said in a news release.”
The center will begin scheduling donations at its facility in Earth City soon, the release stated.
“There’s a bit of a lag period on this, because we want to draw donors who are at least 28 days from the last date they experienced symptoms,” the release stated.
Donors must also meet the center’s standard eligibility requirements for blood donation.
The treatment, known as convalescent plasma therapy, has been used to treat victims of Ebola, SARS and H1N1 influenza.
St. Clair Township closes parking lot that presents danger to social distancing guidelines
The Centennial Park parking lot in St. Clair Township will be closed off to cars beginning Wednesday because its small size does not allow for proper social distancing.
The park is still open for running, walking and biking for people and leashed dogs, Swansea Police Department said in a social media post Wednesday.
St. Clair Township Supervisor Dave Barnes Sr. said the township has been forced to also close its roller blade hockey rink by Wolf Branch School, all tennis courts, basketball courts at Loop Creek, pavilions at Loop Creek and all of its playgrounds amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Barnes said people have ignored the chains and fences put up around some of these amenities and continue to ignore social distancing guidelines, especially around the hours of 5-8 p.m., prompting the Parks and Recreation Department to remove its basketball backboards as a deterrent to keep people from the courts.
Illinois receives 100 ventilators from California
Pritzker publicly thanked California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Twitter for lending Illinois an additional 100 ventilators amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Pritzker announced Tuesday in his daily COVID-19 press conference that Newsom would lend the ventilators through a state-to-state mutual aid request under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
Illinois has also received 450 ventilators from the federal government.
Number of positive COVID-19 cases in southwestern Illinois reaches 335
Health departments across southwestern Illinois announced Thursday the number of coronavirus cases continued to increase with the region’s total now at 335.
The St. Clair County Health Department on Thursday said 743 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 501 negative cases, 115 positive and 127 pending.
Madison County reported it has recorded 99 coronavirus cases with 27 people recovered.
On Monday, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced it would begin releasing ZIP codes where there are five or more positive cases.
Here’s a breakdown of the cases in southwestern Illinois as of Thursday afternoon:
St. Louis County coronavirus death toll rises to 28; city reports 12th death
The number of COVID-19-related deaths has risen to 28 in St. Louis County, according to statistics released Wednesday.
The county has recorded 1,337 total cases as of Thursday afternoon.
City of St. Louis officials have reported 12 COVID-19-related deaths as of Tuesday.
Illinois coronavirus cases surpass 16,000, death toll hits 528
The number of coronavirus cases in Illinois has surpassed 16,000 and 66 additional deaths have been recorded for a total of 528 deaths, the Illinois Department of Public Health said Thursday.
The statewide total stands at 16,422 positive cases. There have been 80,857 coronavirus tests conducted across the state as of Thursday.
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 9, 2020 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Thursday live coronavirus updates: U.S. gives Illinois health centers $51 million."
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