Friday live coronavirus updates: Belleville allows outdoor dining at restaurants, bars
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.
Emissions tests to resume Monday, Illinois EPA says
Starting Monday, most agencies that offer vehicle emissions testings at Illinois Air Team locations will resume work under new safety guidelines.
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director John J. Kim announced testing will resume after operations were suspended in late March while the state worked to slow the spread of COVID-19. “Extensive” precautions are being put in place at Air Team testing locations to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
There are five Air Team testing locations in the metro-east, including:
- Illinois Air Team - 4200 Trade Ct., Swansea, IL, 62226
- George Weber Chevrolet - 701 Old State Route 3, Columbia, IL, 62236
- Illinois Air Team - 1000 E. Chain of Rocks Rd., Pontoon Beach, IL, 62040
- Edwardsville Auto Inc. - 503 E. Vandalia, Edwardsville, IL, 62025
- Andy’s Automotive Group, 3001 Washington Avenue, Alton Il, 62002
Illinois to give some elderly tablets to improve contact during COVID-19
Nearly $1.7 million in federal funds will go toward keeping elderly and disabled Illinoisans in contact with their loved ones as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
The funding is being provided to the Illinois Department of Aging and Illinois Department of Human Services and will be put toward purchasing technology devices aimed to increase social engagement for those who live alone, those who don’t receive in-home services and people who live in rural areas.
The devices will be equipped with apps like FaceTime, Zoom, telehealth apps and other mental stimulators.
“The stress on everybody is growing every day, and we want you to know you are not alone,” said Paula Basta, Director of IDoA. “While senior communities have been locking down, we’ve also been looking at creative ways to keep residents engaged to counter the isolation. Providing these new technologies will help establish the social connection that our seniors need to maintain their health.”
Several state agencies are currently working to identify those in need of the devices. Visit www.dhs.illinois.gov/HelpIsHere or call 1-833-2-FIND-HELP (1-833-234-6343) for more information.
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.
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 29, 2020 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Friday live coronavirus updates: Belleville allows outdoor dining at restaurants, bars."
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