Thursday live coronavirus updates: Annual Madison County Fair canceled due to COVID-19
Madison County Fair canceled due to pandemic restrictions
Officials have announced this year’s Madison County Fair has been canceled due to COVID-19.
The Madison County Executive Fairboard announced the annual fair, scheduled for July 21-26th in Highland, won’t take place this year due to state COVID-19 restrictions. The decision was made after alternative solutions were exhausted, officials said.
“The health and safety of our community and fairgoers is, and always will be, our top priority,” a statement from the fairboard read. “The Fairboard spent weeks in communication with local health departments and the State to develop alternative solutions, but ultimately, had to make the tough decision to cancel this year’s event.”
New rule requires MidAmerica passengers and visitors to wear facemasks
MidAmerica Airport will now require travelers and visitors to wear face masks while at the airport to help combat the spread of COVID-19.
The new policy went into effect at the airport this week and is in accordance with CDC guidelines and the county health department. The new policy is one of many put into effect at the airport due to COVID-19.
“Guests should bring a face covering with them so it can be worn throughout the airport journey for their protection and the protection of others in the terminal,” said Bryan Johnson, Airport Director for MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. “Similar to airline policies, guests at MidAmerica are allowed to remove their masks for a short time in order to consume food or beverages, but must put their masks back on when they are finished eating.”
Airport officials said face coverings can be bandanas, scarves, t-shirts or other fabric.
“MidAmerica Airport remains committed to the safety and health of all passengers and employees, and airport staff continue to have a high level of interaction with local, state and federal health officials regarding measures to protect against the novel coronavirus,” said St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern. “We believe the face covering requirement, in addition to the many other measures we’ve already put in place, can make a difference in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
All four Illinois regions on track to enter Phase 4 next week
All four of Illinois regions are currently on track to move to phase four next week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday.
The fourth phase of Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan more fully reopens the state, which has been in Phase 3 of the plan since late May. The earliest Phase 4 can begin is Friday, June 26.
“All four of Illinois’ health regions are currently on track to move to phase four as early as next week,” Pritzker said.
‘Cheap’ drug is first shown to improve COVID-19 survival
AP: Researchers in England say they have the first evidence that a drug can improve COVID-19 survival: A cheap, widely available steroid reduced deaths by up to one third in severely ill hospitalized patients.
The results were announced Tuesday and the British government immediately authorized the drug’s use across the United Kingdom for coronavirus patients like those who did well in the study. Researchers said they would publish results soon in a medical journal, and several independent experts said it’s important to see details to know how much of a difference the drug, dexamethasone, might make and for whom.
But “bottom line is, good news,” said the United States’ top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci. “This is a significant improvement in the available therapeutic options that we have.”
The coronavirus outbreak has killed more than 438,000 people worldwide since it began late last year in China.
The study, led by the University of Oxford, was a large, strict test that randomly assigned 2,104 patients to get the drug and compared them with 4,321 patients getting only usual care.
The drug was given either orally or through an IV for 10 days. After four weeks, it had reduced deaths by 35% in patients who needed treatment with breathing machines and by 20% in those only needing supplemental oxygen. It did not appear to help less ill patients.
Researchers estimated that the drug would prevent one death for every eight patients treated while on breathing machines and one for every 25 patients on extra oxygen alone.
Southwestern Illinois coronavirus cases
Here are the latest available statistics from southwestern Illinois health departments as of Wednesday afternoon:
- St. Clair: 1,698 positives, 130 deaths, 11,765 tests administered, 36 pending results recovery, 1,232 recoveries, 40 hospitalizations
- Madison: 752 positives, 66 deaths, 10,537 tests administered, 467 recoveries
- Randolph: 279 positives, seven deaths, 2,539 tests administered, no hospitalizations, 270 recoveries
- Clinton: 214 positives, 17 deaths, two hospitalizations, 160 recoveries
- Monroe: 113 positives, 12 deaths
- Macoupin: 47 positives, four deaths, 3,804 tests administered, 42 recoveries, no hospitalizations, no tests pending
- Perry: 44 positives, 40 recoveries
- Jersey: 29 positives, one death, 22 recoveries
- Washington: 20 positives, 18 recoveries
- Bond: 19 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 Wednesday:
- Illinois: 134,185 cases, 6,485 deaths
- U.S.: 2,224,814 cases, 119,625 deaths, 904,182 recoveries
- World: 8,345,995 cases, 448,719 deaths, 4,364,062 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 18, 2020 at 7:52 AM with the headline "Thursday live coronavirus updates: Annual Madison County Fair canceled due to COVID-19."