Monday live coronavirus updates: Attractions continue to reopen throughout region
Face masks to be distributed at protests in St. Louis
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson announced Monday masks will be distributed at future demonstrations over the death of George Floyd in the city.
In her daily press briefing, Krewson said protests of the weekend left city officials increasingly worried about more COVID-19 cases stemming from protests.
“We know that black and brown communities have been more devastated by COVID than white communities. We don’t want these protests to contribute more to that tragedy,” she said.
Belleville Public Library to offer curbside pickup
The Belleville Public Library will begin offering curbside pickup services to its patrons this week.
The library, which has been closed due to COVID-19, announced Monday that patrons may order items online at www.belleville.net/350/library, via email at curbside@bellevillepubliclibrary.org or by calling 618-234-0441. Books can be picked up Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the main library located at 121 E. Washington.
There is a limit to 10 items per account and only one library account can be utilized per household, a statement read.
Most churches in southwest Illinois keep services online
Most churches in the metro-east did not take advantage Sunday of a change in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s policy on religious services during the coronavirus pandemic.
Pritzker lifted restrictions on church gatherings Thursday in the face of multiple lawsuits. The Illinois Department of Public Health instead released detailed guidance for churches as they reopen under the threat of COVID-19.
But many churches opted to continue holding services online, at least during the first weekend in Phase 3 of the governor’s Restore Illinois reopening plan.
Churches in the Catholic Diocese of Belleville continued to suspend public Mass, opting for online streaming instead.
The Cathedral of St. Peter in Belleville, meantime, hinted on Friday about a reopening plan. The Diocese of Springfield announced it would begin hosting public Mass at 25% capacity on the weekend of June 7.
The Southern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church would renew its commitment to remote worship, Bishop John Roth said in a May 13 letter, but did not indicate when they would reopen churches.
Faith Baptist Church in Belleville, however, held in-person services Sunday with a maximum capacity of 70 people, and churchgoers were required to register online ahead of time.
Several other metro-east churches opted to hold services online, including St. Mark Lutheran Church, Victory Family Church, New Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Grace Church and Union United Methodist Church. Others, such as Zion Lutheran Church in Belleville and First Baptist Church in Fairview Heights, held services in their parking lots.
First Baptist Church planned to return to in-person worship the first weekend in June with social distancing guidelines, capacity limits and reservations.
St. Louis Aquarium, Wheel to reopen next week
The St. Louis Aquarium and Wheel will reopen its doors next Monday after shutting down due to COVID-19.
The indoor and outdoor attractions at the St. Louis Union Station will reopen Monday, June 8, resuming its regular hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Social distancing and other new rules are being implemented to keep patrons and employees safe and to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
According to a statement from Union Station officials, all guests and annual pass holders will be required to reserve timed tickets before their visit in compliance with St. Louis city COVID-19 rules. The aquarium will also have a “significantly” reduced capacity.
Tickets will not be available for same-day visits at the ticket counter, according to the statement, and no guests will be admitted to the aquarium prior to their reservation time.
First human trials for potential treatment for coronavirus begin
The first human trials of a potential antibody treatment for COVID-19 has begun.
According to an article from CNN, Eli Lilly and Company said Monday its first human trial of an antibody therapy designed to treat COVID-19 has started, the first phase of which will determine if the therapy is “safe and well-tolerated.”
The results of the first phase are expected in late June and the patients who are being treated with the therapy are hospitalized at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine in New York, Cedars-Sinal in Los Angeles and Emory University in Atlanta, CNN reported.
Silver Dollar City to hold delayed opening day this month
Missouri’s Silver Dollar City will reopen Monday, June 15, after being closed due to COVID-19.
The popular Missouri attraction’s opening date was delayed this year due to the deadly virus. According to a statement from Silver Dollar City, season ticket holders
According to a statement from the park, daily capacity will be limited to comply with social distancing guidelines and visitors will need to reserve the day they wish to visit. A touchless temperature scan will also be administered when visitors enter the park.
Southwest Illinois coronavirus cases
Local health departments reported Monday that the number of coronavirus cases in southwestern Illinois has reached 2,544, and the number of deaths has increased to 197.
St. Clair County announced the death of a woman in her 70s with underlying health conditions. Madison County also reported two new virus-related deaths, but did not release details.
Here are the latest available statistics for southwestern Illinois counties as of Monday afternoon:
- St. Clair: 1,257 positives, 97 deaths, 7,357 tests administered, 809 recoveries, 76 test results pending
- Madison: 598 positives, 62 deaths, 6,402 tests administered, 103 hospitalizations, 388 recoveries
- Clinton: 182 positives, 17 deaths, 1,059 tests administered, one hospitalization, 90 recoveries
- Monroe: 96 positives, 12 deaths, eight hospitalizations, 51 recoveries
- Washington: 18 positives, 15 recoveries
- Randolph: 268 positives, four deaths, 1,581 tests administered, one hospitalization, 242 recoveries
- Bond: 12 positives, one death, one hospitalization, 214 tests administered, six recoveries, one test pending
- Jersey: 24 positives, one death, 18 recoveries
- Macoupin: 46 positives, three deaths, 2,636 tests administered, 36 recoveries, two hospitalizations, zero tests pending
- Perry: 42 positives, 39 recoveries
- Calhoun: One positive, one recovery
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 June 1, 2020 at 9:09 AM with the headline "Monday live coronavirus updates: Attractions continue to reopen throughout region."