Thursday live coronavirus updates: Rural Illinois health clinics awarded $11.8 million
Cities make rules on outdoor dining as Illinois reopens after shutdown
Metro-east cities are moving quickly to pass ordinances, issue permits and take other action to allow more restaurants and bars to expand outdoor dining temporarily beginning Friday, the start of Phase 3 of Restore Illinois.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration developed the gradual reopening plan with the input of researchers and public health officials.
In Phase 3, nonessential retail can reopen with capacity limits and other precautions, as can offices, salons, barbershops and manufacturing. Restaurants also can begin outdoor dining, and child-care centers can reopen, additions to the original plan.
In Belleville, the city is taking extra measures to accommodate businesses reopening by closing short sections of three streets.
“We’re just trying to be fair to everyone, give them a chance to reopen and get some revenue,” Mayor Mark Eckert said. “It will be good for them. It will be good for the city.”
Read more about how metro-east cities are preparing for Phase 3.
Belleville allows restaurants, bars to offer outdoor dining
Belleville City Council passed a resolution Thursday afternoon that will allow restaurants and bars to apply for temporary permits to create or expand outdoor dining on parking lots and portions of three downtown streets.
Aldermen voted at a special meeting via conference call. The resolution will take effect Friday in conjunction with Phase 3 of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to restart the state’s economy and begin reopening “nonessential” businesses after the COVID-19 shutdown.
Under the resolution, the city will close a half block of North Church Street for use by Tavern on Main and The Wine Tap; a half block of South Jackson for use by Copper Fire and Bennie’s Pizza Pub; and a block of South High for use by Seven and Shichi Sushi Bar for 90 days.
Mayor Mark Eckert and staff also will review permit applications from restaurants and bars in other neighborhoods that want to create outdoor dining or expand it into private parking lots.
Eckert told aldermen that staff consulted with other cities that have passed similar resolutions and came up with a plan that was thorough but one that wouldn’t require an “enormous” amount of paperwork from businesses applying for permits.
No local residents spoke for or against the resolution. The only discussion related to hours. Restaurants and bars with outdoor dining will be required to close by 10 p.m., unless they’re using their regular patios and formerly stayed open later.
Senators announce $11.8 million for COVID-19 testing for rural communities
U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth announced $11.8 million funds for COVID-19 testing in rural communities in Illinois Thursday.
The funding, which stems from the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act will support more than 200 Rural Health Clinics around Illinois, each of which will receive roughly $49,000 in federal funds.
Among the 200 rural health clinics are several local sites, including the Marissa Medical Clinic in Marissa, Southern OB/GYN in Highland and the HSHS Medical Group in Highland.
“This federal funding will help ensure that every corner of our state has adequate testing for COVID-19. We cannot safely and fully reopen our economy without it,” Durbin said. “I’m pleased Congress was able to come together on a bipartisan basis to provide this funding to help these health centers continue serving patients in need. Senator Duckworth and I will continue working to ensure our state has the resources it needs to get through this crisis.”
Here is a full list of clinics receiving funding.
Missouri extends social distancing order until mid-June
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced the state’s social distancing order will be extended until June 15 in his Thursday press briefing.
The order which is part of the state’s first phase of reopening asks that any residents of Missouri practice social distancing if they leave their homes.
The order was scheduled to expire Monday.
Science Center to reopen in June with social distancing, limited occupancy
The St. Louis Science Center has announced it will reopen in June.
Come Saturday, June 20, the popular St. Louis attraction will reopen its doors with new safety measures and operating guidelines that will limit occupancy. Other guidelines include time ticket reservations that can be made online or by phone, reduced hours and days the center is open, mask requirements for anyone age 9 and above and new one-way walking paths to help maintain social distancing.
“The Science Center is looking forward to safely welcoming our community back,” said Todd Bastean, president and CEO of the Science Center. “The team has carefully developed measures to help guests be able to enjoy the Science Center experience, while adhering to guidelines from local authorities, health officials and the City of St. Louis.”
Monroe County Fair canceled
The Monroe County Fair Association announced the 73-year-old fair has been canceled for 2020 because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Fairs and other events that attract large numbers of people are not permitted until Phase 5 of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s five-phase plan to reopen the state’s economy. Barring an unforeseen and sudden spike in cases throughout southern Illinois, the region will begin Phase 3 on Friday.
Fair board president Don Schrader said in a release that Tuesday’s decision to cancel the fair ultimately was made out of concern for volunteers and those who attend the annual event.
“The Board has gone through some difficult weeks of uncertainty as our county, our state and our country have struggled with the coronavirus pandemic,” he said in a statement on the fair website. “The main concern of the Monroe County Fair Board during these weeks has been the health and safety of those who participate in and those who attend the annual county fair. The decision to cancel the fair was made following numerous conversations with the Monroe County Health Department and local officials, all of whom are required to follow the Governor’s Restore Illinois Safety Plan.”
Southwestern Illinois coronavirus cases
A total of 2,403 people in southwestern Illinois have tested positive for COVID-19 and 186 people have died since the pandemic began, health officials reported as of Thursday.
Here are the latest statistics for southwestern Illinois counties:
- St. Clair County: 1,167 positives, 92 deaths, 6,742 tests administered, 61 hospitalizations, 736 recoveries
- Madison County: 558 positives, 58 deaths, 5,474 tests administered, 99 hospitalizations, 299 recoveries
- Randolph County: 267 positives, four deaths, 1,558 tests administered, one hospitalized
- Clinton County: 178 positives, 17 deaths, 977 tests administered, one hospitalization, 89 recoveries
- Monroe County: 94 positives, 11 deaths, eight hospitalizations, 51 recoveries
- Washington County: 18 positives, 15 recoveries
- Bond County: 12 positives, one death, one hospitalization, six recoveries, 214 tests administered, one test pending
- Macoupin County: 45 positives, two deaths, 2,559 tests administered, 36 recoveries, two hospitalizations, six tests pending
- Perry County: 42 positives, 38 recoveries
- Jersey County: 20 positives, one death, 17 recoveries
- Calhoun County: One positive, one recovery
State, nation, world coronavirus cases
On Thursday, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced 1,527 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 and 104 more people have died statewide. Illinois has seen a total of 5,186 deaths across the state during the pandemic and a total of 115,833 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.
According to data from John Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center, this is how many people have been affected by COVID-19 across the nation and world as of 5 p.m. Thursday:
- United States: 1,717,756 people tested positive; 399,991 people recovered; 101,470 people have died.
- World: 5,765,094 people tested positive; 2,398,228 people recovered; 358,369 people died.
Want to help? Here are some ideas
The BND has compiled a list of ways you can help during the COVID-19 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 throughout the day with information about the spread of the coronavirus in southwestern Illinois.
You can also find the most complete and up-to-date information from government sites including:
- State of Illinois’ COVID-19 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 COVID-19 pandemic:
- Touchette Regional Hospital’s Mental Health Support and Resource Line: Call 618-482-7158 to talk to trained therapy staff.
- Illinois Human Services Mental Health Division’s Call4Calm: Text the word “talk” to 552020 to text with a mental health care professional for free.
- Centerstone of Illinois, Inc.: Call 618-462-2331 for virtual mental health services.
- Chestnut Health Systems: Call 618-877-4420 for virtual mental health services.
- Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous: Call 618-398-9409 or email metroeastnapr@gmail.com to learn about virtual meetings.
- Regional Disaster Mental Health Volunteer Response Team: Call a support line for health care professionals at 618-381-5173.
Contact BND with tips, concerns, suggestions
If you have suggestions about something for the BND to cover regarding the COVID-19 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 28, 2020 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Thursday live coronavirus updates: Rural Illinois health clinics awarded $11.8 million."
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