Friday live coronavirus updates: Illinois, Du Quoin State fair officially canceled
Illinois, Du Quoin State fair officially canceled due to COVID-19
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday the Illinois and Du Quoin State fairs will not be held this year due to COVID-19.
In a post on Facebook, Pritzker said it would not be safe to hold the fairs this year due to the ongoing spread of the coronavirus.
“This is the right choice based on guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health and other experts: we have to prioritize keeping our people safe,” he wrote.
Pritzker says state won’t move to next reopening phase till late June
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says its still too early for Illinois to move into the next phase of his Restore Illinois plan.
Pritzker’s comments came in response to a letter from 19 of Illinois’ state senators urging early progression to phase four. He said moving too quickly into the next phase would mean ignoring the science of how coronavirus spreads.
“What we’ve done the right way is rely on the science. Rely upon the experts,” he said. “You wouldn’t want political decisions being made here about public health.”
In the Republican’s letter, Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady of Bloomington and several others wrote that they don’t understand why businesses can’t reopen while protests with thousands of people are being held statewide.
The letter called on Pritzker to change the plan to a 14-day timeline between phases, instead of the 28-day plan that’s already in place.
CDC releases list of tips for limiting everyday COVID-19 risk
NEW YORK (AP) — Take the stairs, not the elevator, down from your hotel room. Encourage people to bring their own food and drinks to your cookout. Use hand sanitizer after banking at an ATM. Call ahead to restaurants and nail salons to make sure staff are wearing face coverings. And no high-fives — or even elbow bumps — at the gym.
These are some of the tips in long-awaited guidance from U.S. health officials about how to reduce risk of coronavirus infection for Americans who are attempting some semblance of normal life.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the guidelines Friday, along with a second set for organizing and attending big gatherings such as concerts, sporting events, protests and political rallies.
But the guidelines are “not intended to endorse any particular type of event,” the CDC’s Dr. Jay Butler said in a Friday call with reporters.
The staging and attendance of such events should be in accordance with what local health officials are advising, based on much the coronavirus is spreading in a particular community, he added.
The guidelines are long overdue, some health experts say.
Julia Marcus, a Harvard Medical School infectious disease researcher, has likened stay-at-home suggestions to “abstinence-only” messaging and has pressed for advice to help people minimize risk. She said she was delighted by the CDC’s tips.
“I think it’s a huge step in the right direction,” Marcus said. “These guidelines are really directed toward ordinary Americans trying to make decisions about risk every day.”
But there are notable omissions. There’s nothing about precautions to take before going to church, no guidance about dating and sex and no explicit advice on a topic that some doctors say they get asked all the time: Is it OK to take the kids to visit grandparents?
“Visiting grandma is something I must address three times a week,“ said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious disease expert.
“My empathy goes out to the CDC. It’s very, very difficult to have a precise answer for every circumstance,” he added.
Stay-at-home orders, school shutdowns and business closings were followed by a national flattening in the rate of new cases. In recent weeks, many states have started reopening as they face pressure to get the pandemic-damaged economy going again. And cases are rising in nearly half the states, according to an Associated Press analysis.
The CDC has put out many sets of guidelines, including some for churches, camps, schools and transit agencies. But until now, the organization hasn’t offered specific advice to people trying to decide whether to take vacations, get their nails done, host barbecues, visit a bank or library, go out to eat or exercise at a gym.
The CDC’s director, Dr. Robert Redfield, called the new guidelines “common sense suggestions,” not mandates. State or local governments may want to reimpose stricter measures if new outbreaks occur, but that’s a call for them to make, CDC officials said.
The guidelines repeat earlier advice about wearing face coverings, especially if it’s difficult to keep at least 6 feet away from other people.
They also offer a list of questions people should consider before going out and some things to think about in particular situations. For example, it suggests that house parties be held outside, guests be greeted with a wave instead of a hug and that everyone bring their own food and drinks.
St. Louis County to lift more restrictions starting Monday
Restrictions will continue to be lifted next week in St. Louis County, officials said Friday.
Fitness centers, pools, casinos and banquet halls are set to reopen Monday, June 15, with guidelines set out by the CDC.
Capacity also will be increased to 50% at some establishments, according to a statement from county officials. On June 29, all businesses regardless of industry will increase to 50% capacity. That includes weddings, funerals, anniversary parties and any other gatherings that have been limited to 10 people in the past.
Missouri to lift all COVID-19 restrictions next week, Governor says
Missouri will lift all of its COVID-19 restrictions starting next week, Gov. Mike Parsons announced Thursday.
Parson, during his daily press briefing, said the state will be “fully open for business” come next Tuesday, June 16, when Phase 2 begins. The statewide health order and all state restrictions will be lifted with local authorities using their own rules, regulations and ordinances.
“It’s still extremely important for everyone to continue social distancing,” Parson said during the Facebook live stream. “Be proactive. Avoid large, congested crowds, and if you can’t social distance, take extra precautions to protect yourself and those around you.”
Ballpark Village to reopen next week in St. Louis
Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis will reopen next week with safety restrictions.
The downtown attraction is set to reopen on Wednesday, June 17 at 5 p.m. with new procedures “in compliance” with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for sanitation and social distancing.
More than 300 seats have been added to the plaza to provide more outdoor seating and contactless ordering and payment has also been added to the venue.
A new venue called Sports & Social inside the village will also open on June 17.
Southwestern Illinois coronavirus cases
Here are the latest available statistics from southwestern Illinois health departments as of Friday afternoon:
- St. Clair: 1,569 positives, 123 deaths, 10,682 tests administered, 1,075 recoveries, 58 test results pending, 48 hospitalizations
- Madison: 686 positives, 65 deaths, 8,809 tests administered, 106 hospitalizations, 464 recoveries
- Randolph: 277 positives, seven deaths, 2,299 tests administered, no hospitalizations, 267 recoveries
- Clinton: 204 positives, 17 deaths, two hospitalizations, 161 recoveries
- Monroe: 105 positives, 12 deaths
- Macoupin: 47 positives, three deaths, 3,352 tests administered, 42 recoveries, one hospitalization, one test pending
- Perry: 43 positives, 40 recoveries
- Jersey: 28 positives, one death, 22 recoveries
- Washington: 20 positives, 18 recoveries
- Bond: 12 positives, one death, one hospitalization, six recoveries, 214 tests administered, one test pending
- Calhoun: One positive, one recovery
State, nation, world statistics
Here are the latest available statistics from the Illinois Department of Public Health and Johns Hopkins University’s coronavirus map as of Friday:
- Illinois: 131,198 cases, 6,260 deaths
- U.S.: 2,106,439 cases, 116,602 deaths, 820,284 recoveries
- World: 7,678,831 cases, 426,283 deaths, 3,887,845 recoveries
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 12, 2020 at 9:08 AM.