Saturday live coronavirus updates: St. Joseph’s Hospital resumes elective surgeries
Madison County to vote on ‘phased’ reopening Tuesday, defying state
A plan to reopen Madison County will be voted on Tuesday after county officials asked for more time to study the legality of the plan.
During a special meeting Friday of the Madison County Health Board, members voted to table until next week a plan to reopen the county that would defy Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to open the state on a gradual and regional basis. The action to delay a vote came at the request of State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons.
The meeting was the second special meeting to discuss plans for reopening, the first of which took place Thursday. During that meeting, Bond County attorney Tom Devore argued that the current stay-at-home order was beyond the governor’s power.
Gibbons said his office would need until at least Tuesday to study the plan, which wasn’t made available to the public, to “limit” or “eliminate” any liabilities it could create for the county.
“At first blush, there are some things that concern me,” said Gibbons, a Democrat. “This will give us more time to put us on a better legal footing.”
St. Louis City retailers, restaurants to reopen May 18 with restrictions
St. Louis City restaurants and retail stores will begin to reopen in the coming weeks, but not without some restrictions, Mayor Lyda Krewson said Friday.
Come Monday, May 18, restaurants and retail stores inside city limits will be allowed to open while following rules to stunt the spread of COVID-19, Krewson said. At restaurants, tables will need to be at least six feet apart and employees will need to wear masks, while customers are encouraged to as well.
Bars, gyms and playgrounds, however, will not be allowed to reopen.
Larger venues will not be allowed to reopen immediately, but city officials are working with venue owners to determine when an opening will be possible.
CARES Act funds available for SIUE students
Southern Illinois University announced this week it will be making federal CARES Act funds available to students who are experiencing unexpected education expenses as a result of COVID-19.
Only students who completed a FASFA and are eligible for Title IV federal financial aid can receive the funds, according to a statement from the university.
Students who have not completed the FASFA can still do so, by submitting a 2019-2020 FAFSA online for consideration.
Eligible expenses under the CARES Act include food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, childcare and transportation.
For more information visit http://siue.edu/about/announcements/coronavirus.
St. Joseph’s Hospital resumes elective surgeries
HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland will begin offering elective surgeries again next week.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s revised stay-at-home order allows hospitals to resume non-emergency procedures.
Anyone who had a scheduled procedure disrupted by the stay-at-home order will be contacted by their surgeon’s office to reschedule their procedure.
The hospital will follow will guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH):
- Patients preparing for an elective procedure must have a negative COVID-19 test on file within 72 hours of a scheduled procedure and must self-quarantine after being tested until the day of surgery to limit their risk of exposure. If you have a surgery or procedure scheduled, you will receive instructions from your provider or the hospital on next steps. If applicable, patients will be informed during a pre-surgical call the most convenient place to undergo this testing. St. Joseph’s will only be testing patients scheduled for procedures at an HSHS facility.
- The patient’s one support person that will be allowed to accompany them the day of their surgery will be screened.
- The hospital’s current visitor restrictions will still apply to minimize traffic within the hospital to keep patients and the community safe.
All patients and visitors will be required to wear a mask.
Madison County Sheriff’s Office receives federal money
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office will receive $58,008 in federal money from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The funding is part of the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program. The program helps pay for preventing, preparing for and responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Our first responders deserve to have the resources they need to effectively respond to COVID-19,” U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, said.
Chicago outlines its own reopening plan
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot outlined the phases of her city’s reopening plan, which mirrored Illinois’ five-phase plan but with some additional rules.
Lightfoot’s plan adds stricter rules for infection rates and ability to conduct testing, The Chicago Tribune reported Friday.
The city would have to see less than 15% of tests coming back positive for two weeks to move to the next phase, while the statewide plan requires a 20% or lower positivity rate for the same time period.
Like Illinois, Chicago is currently in phase two, which Lightfoot characterized as the “stay-at-home” phase, the newspaper reported.
Southwestern Illinois coronavirus cases
For the first time since April 25, St. Clair County and Madison County reported no new coronavirus deaths Friday.
Madison County, in fact, reported only three new cases Friday, down from 19 Thursday. St. Clair County reported 27 new cases, down from 46 Thursday. Clinton County did report one new death Friday, with no specific information provided. That raises the death toll for the county to 10.
The region has had 1,620 cases and 110 deaths since the pandemic began.
In the daily COVID-19 news release Saturday, the state announced 2,325 new cases statewide, bringing the total number to 76,085. Officials also announced 108 new deaths for a total of 3,2349 since the pandemic began.
Here are the latest available statistics for southwestern Illinois counties:
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: one additional death 41 new positives
Total overall: 735 positives, 42 deaths, 3,331 tests administered, 71 tests pending
ZIP codes with positive cases (ZIP codes with five or fewer cases are not reported):
- 62201 (East St. Louis, Sauget): 12
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 24
- 62204 (East St. Louis, Washington Park, Caseyville): 34
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 34
- 62206 (Cahokia, Centreville, Sauget): 67
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 45
- 62208 (Fairview Heights, O’Fallon): 39
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 76
- 62285 (Smithton): 6
- 62221 (Belleville, Shiloh): 59
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 38=9
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea, Shiloh): 81
- 62254 (Lebanon): 19
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 14
- 62239 (Dupo): 11
- 62269 (O’Fallon, Shiloh): 61
- 62257 (Marissa): 7
- 62232 (Caseyville): 8
- 62265 (New Baden): 9
MADISON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: Three new positives, one new hospitalization, five new recoveries
Total overall: 427 positives, 31 deaths, 82 hospitalizations, 121 recoveries
ZIP codes with positive cases:
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 66
- 62010 (Bethalto): 8
- 62024 (East Alton): 8
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 101
- 62095 (Wood River): 10
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 46
- 62035 (Godfrey): 15
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach, Madison): 62
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 15
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 7
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 34
- 62249 (Highland): 10
- 62294 (Troy): 16
- 62062 (Maryville): 6
- 62230 (Breese) 6
MONROE COUNTY
Friday’s new data: One new positive
Total overall: 80 positives, 11 deaths, 29 recoveries
ZIP codes with positive cases:
- 62236 (Columbia): 36
- 622295 (Valmeyer): 6
- 62298 (Waterloo): 33
CLINTON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: Two new positives, one new death, 46 new tests administered, nine new recoveries
Total overall: 123 positives, nine deaths, 576 tests administered, 23 recoveries
ZIP codes with positive cases:
- 62230 (Breese): 6
- 62231 (Carlyle): 64
- 62265 (New Baden): 10
- 62801 (Centralia): 50
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 205 positives, two deaths, 89 recoveries
ZIP codes with positive cases:
- 62233 (Chester): 81
- 62272 (Willisville, Percy): 44
- 62278 (Red Bud): 14
- 62286 (Sparta): 27
- 62288 (Steeleville): 30
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 14 positives, nine recoveries
BOND COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: Eight positives, one death, 140 tests administered, six tests pending, three recoveries
JERSEY COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: one addition case
Total overall: 17 positives, one death, 10 recoveries
ZIP code with positive cases:
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 12
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 44 new tests administered, six less pending tests
Total overall: 38 positives, one death, 758 tests administered, 8 tests pending, 28 recoveries
ZIP code with positive cases:
- 62088 (Staunton): 8
- 62069 (Mount Olive): 7
- 62056 (Litchfield): 12
CALHOUN COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: One positive, one recovery
PERRY COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 32 positives
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 14
Want to help? Here are some ideas
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
Who to call about mental health
Here are some resources from mental health professionals for anyone struggling during the coronavirus pandemic:
Touchette Regional Hospital’s new Mental Health Support and Resource Line to talk to trained therapy staff: call 618-482-7158
Illinois Human Services Mental Health Division’s Call4Calm to text with a mental health care professional for free: text the word “talk” to 552020.
Centerstone of Illinois, Inc. for virtual mental health services: call 618-462-2331.
Chestnut Health Systems for virtual mental health services: call 618-877-4420.
Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous for virtual meetings: call 618-398-9409 or email metroeastnapr@gmail.com.
Regional Disaster Mental Health Volunteer response team’s new Support Line for health care professionals: call 618-381-5173.
Contact 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.
We’d like to hear from health care workers
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.
Willing to share your COVID-19 story?
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 May 9, 2020 at 12:00 AM.