Thursday live coronavirus updates: Get tested in East St. Louis even without symptoms
State changes criteria for who can be tested in East St. Louis
Illinois announced Thursday that the state-operated testing site at the Jackie Joyner Kersee Center is now open to anyone who wants to get tested for the coronavirus at no cost to the individual, regardless of whether they have symptoms.
No appointment, doctor referral or insurance is needed, according to the state. And there is no requirement that someone have symptoms to get a test. The East St. Louis site offers drive-thru and walk-up testing from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. while supplies last.
The Illinois Department of Public Health is recommending that people get tested if they have been in a mass gathering, including rallies and protests, over the past week, according to Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the department.
“As people gather in large crowds with varying degrees of social distancing, there is cause for concern about COVID-19 spread and outbreaks, especially if masks were not worn universally,” Ezike said in a news release. “... We recommend testing 5-7 days after participating in large group rallies, or immediately if symptoms develop.”
Illinois Emergency Management Agency Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau said in the release that state-operated testing sites have the capacity to test more than 6,000 people per day.
St. Clair County reports highest number of hospitalizations since April
St. Clair County on Wednesday reported the highest number of patients in county hospitals for illnesses related to the coronavirus since April.
The four hospitals in the county had a total of 74 patients Wednesday, a number they last reported April 16. The hospitals include Memorial Hospital Belleville, Memorial Hospital East in Shiloh, HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon and Touchette Regional Hospital in Centreville.
County officials are concerned because hospitalizations are one of the governor’s benchmarks to allow regions of the state to reopen select businesses and allow more activities that had been halted to prevent the virus from spreading.
The Illinois Department of Public said via email Thursday that one county “may not have a significant impact on the overall region,” in response to a Belleville News-Democrat inquiry about the significance of St. Clair County’s increase.
Majority of Madison County’s deaths from long-term care centers
Nearly 82% of COVID-19 deaths in Madison County have been from long-term care centers experiencing coronavirus outbreaks, according to the health department.
On Wednesday, Director of Public Health Toni Corona said of the county’s 65 deaths, approximately 53 were residents of long-term care centers. She spoke during a Madison County Health Advisory Committee meeting.
In St. Clair County, 60% of its 101 deaths were from long-term care centers.
City of Lebanon gives businesses more space as they reopen
Lebanon is giving businesses more sidewalk and street space for outdoor dining at restaurants or other uses, Mayor Rich Wilken said in a statement.
Wilken said the city on Thursday will “realign” the first three blocks of West St. Louis Street to accommodate businesses reopening under Phases 3 and 4 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan.
The Southern Illinois region, which includes the metro-east, entered Phase 3 on May 29, when retail stores reopened and restaurants allowed outdoor dining again. In Phase 4, restaurants can allow dine-in seating.
Wilken said the city’s plan is to turn West St. Louis into a one-way street from the intersection of U.S. Highways 4 and 50 to Monroe Street. Drivers will travel east to west down the middle of the road, according to the mayor.
He said the changes will give each business access to the sidewalk and 12 feet of the street to use “in what they determine to be in the best interest of their particular operations.” Wilken said that could include a larger area of outdoor seating at restaurants, parking or space for curb-side pickup.
St. Clair County offering small business loans
The St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department is offering loans to small businesses that have been negatively impacted by orders to close or limit operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release from the Metro East Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Businesses must have 25 full-time equivalent or fewer employees to qualify.
The county program can provide zero-interest, forgivable loans of up to $15,000, depending on number of employees, to help businesses deal with significant, temporary losses of revenue and assist them in retaining and paying employees.
Applications may be requested from Christina Anderson at Christina.Anderson@co.st-clair.il.us or 618-825-3218 or Lisa Ludwig at Lisa.Ludwig@co.st-clair.il.us or 618-825-3211, or downloaded at http://www.co.st-clair.il.us/departments/grants/development/Pages/default.aspx.
The deadline for applications is 4:30 p.m. June 19 with funds expected to be available in late June or July. If there is high demand, a lottery drawing may be held on June 22.
CARES act grant to support Metro Transit services
Bi-State Development will use a $142.4 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration to support the safe operation of MetroBus, MetroLink light rail and Metro Call-A-Ride paratransit in Missouri and Illinois during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a news release.
The grant is part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in late March.
“We would like to thank the Federal Transit Administration for recognizing the critical importance of public transit to the St. Louis region during this time,” stated Taulby Roach, president and CEO of Bi-State Development. “Now more than ever, our region needs public transportation options to connect with work, medical care, groceries and other essential destinations.
“This funding will help support Metro Transit operations, and will also ensure we can continue to provide our transit operators and front-line staff with the tools and resources they need to keep themselves and our riders safe. Our operators are our heroes, out there on the front line every day, 21 hours a day, keeping the region moving.”
Beyond operational costs, Metro Transit will use the money to continue enhanced cleaning protocols, obtain cleaning supplies, masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment; and take other steps to support the health and safety of riders and employees, according to the release.
Metro Transit reports that ridership is down by more than 50 percent, and local sales tax revenues that support public transit are anticipated to be 20 percent lower in the next fiscal year.
Southwest Illinois coronavirus cases
Here are the latest available statistics for southwestern Illinois counties as of Thursday afternoon:
- St. Clair: 1,362 positives, 102 deaths, 8,533 tests administered, 859 recoveries, 62 hospitalizations, 49 test results pending
- Madison: 615 positives, 65 deaths, 6,913 tests administered, 106 hospitalizations, 412 recoveries
- Clinton: 191 positives, 17 deaths, 1,059 tests administered, one hospitalization, 133 recoveries
- Monroe: 98 positives, 12 deaths, eight hospitalizations, 51 recoveries
- Washington: 18 positives, 15 recoveries
- Randolph: 272 positives, four deaths, 1,692 tests administered, one hospitalization, 259 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, 2,798 tests administered, 36 recoveries, two hospitalizations, seven 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 4, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Thursday live coronavirus updates: Get tested in East St. Louis even without symptoms."
