Wednesday live coronavirus updates: Mount Vernon care facility has 52 positive cases
Here is a roundup of coronavirus news you need to know Wednesday:
Four new deaths in southwestern Illinois
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in southwestern Illinois has reached 785, while the number of deaths has increased to 41.
On Wednesday, Madison County health officials announced four more people had died from complications of the virus, two men in their 70s and two men in their 80s. The county’s death toll since the pandemic started is now 13.
Previous deaths have also been reported in St. Clair County, which has 19, and Monroe County, which has eight.
Stay-at-home order extended ‘indefinitely’ in St. Louis County
St. Louis County’s stay-at-home order will continue “indefinitely,” County Executive Sam Page announced this morning on his Facebook page Wednesday morning.
The county’s stay at home order was set to expire Wednesday at 11:59 a.m. Page said the county will reevaluate the extension in May.
“We will be continuously reevaluating the situation and the data here in St. Louis,” Page said.
In the last 24 hours, St. Louis County has reported 68 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the county total to 2,417 with 96 deaths.
More than 50 residents test COVID-19 positive at Mount Vernon care facility
A long-term care facility in Mount Vernon has more than 50 residents testing positive for COVID-19.
According to an article by The Southern, GreenTree at Mount Vernon Assisted Living & Memory Care tested all 83 residents at the care facility Sunday after earlier testing showed 14 residents had the virus. Nine employees at the facility also have tested positive.
A total of 52 residents tested positive as of Monday.
Chester food manufacturer to close for two weeks
A Chester food manufacturing plant whose CEO died of coronavirus last week will close temporarily, The (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan reported Tuesday.
Don Welge, 84, the late president and CEO of Gilster-Mary Lee, a family-held food manufacturer headquartered in Chester, died Thursday at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis. The closure started Saturday.
The plant was undergoing extra cleaning, Don Welge’s son, Tom Welge, told the newspaper.
About half of employees at Gilster-Mary Lee’s executive office in Chester have tested positive for coronavirus or have been quarantined with possible symptoms, including Tom Welge, who described his symptoms as mild.
Rural Hospitals in Illinois to get $5.5 million boost to fight COVID-19
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration (HSRA) awarded $5,564,992 in Illinois in an effort to combat COVID-19 in rural communities.
The funding will go through the state Department of Public Health and be invested into small rural hospitals throughout Illinois.
“As the nation combats COVID-19, hospitals, particularly in rural communities, play an integral role in care delivery and are on the frontlines of this battle,” said HRSA Administrator Tom Engels. “Timely access to this funding enables them to expand their ability to continue to provide care while adapting to the unique challenges posed by this pandemic.”
Madison County offers grace period for first tax payment
The Madison County treasurer will offer a two-month grace period on the first property tax payment deadline to help those unable to pay because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Late penalties will be waived for the first installment due July 9 as long as the payment is received by September 9, according to a news release from the treasurer’s office. Those who are unemployed or whose businesses are closed because of the coronavirus can take advantage of the grace period.
Local schools could see a delay in property tax revenue payments, but Treasurer Chris Slusser said superintendents are prepared.
Slusser said the county will operate on the honor system and asked anyone who can to pay on time.
The Madison County Board is expected to approve a resolution allowing the grace period at their May meeting.
The plan is available to homeowners and businesses, but escrow payments from banks and mortgage companies will not be eligible.
Southwestern Illinois coronavirus cases by county
Here’s a breakdown of the number of people to test positive for COVID-19 in southwestern Illinois as of Wednesday:
- St. Clair: 327 positives, 19 deaths, 61 hospitalized, five on ventilators, 1,360 tests administered, 61 tests pending
- Madison: 231 positives, 13 deaths, 67 hospitalized, 72 recovered
- Randolph: 68 positives, one death, three hospitalized, 45 recovered
- Monroe: 61 positives, eight deaths, seven recovered
- Clinton: 51 positives, 246 tests administered, four hospitalized, 15 recovered
Macoupin: 22 positives, 258 tests administered, 18 tests pending, 15 recovered
- Jersey: 11 positive cases, 80 tested, five recovered
- Washington: Seven positives
- Bond: Four positives, 51 tests administered, four tests pending, two recovered
- Calhoun: One positive, one recovered
- Perry: Two positive
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 22, 2020 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Wednesday live coronavirus updates: Mount Vernon care facility has 52 positive cases."
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