St. Clair reports highest daily total of COVID-19 cases, region has no new deaths
St. Clair County reported its highest daily total of coronavirus cases, health officials announced Wednesday.
The county reported 78 new COVID-19 cases, the most since 63 were reported May 24. St. Clair did not report any new deaths, however.
Overall, St. Clair County now has 2,732 coronavirus cases and 147 deaths related to the virus., leading the metro-east in both categories Cases reported Wednesday ranged in ages from under 10 to people in their 70s, including 26 cases of individuals in their 20s. Currently, 29 individuals remain hospitalized but none are on a ventilator in St. Clair County.
Officials say recent celebrations of Fourth of July contributed to the increase, but other reasons for the high number of cases in the county remain somewhat of a mystery.
On Tuesday, St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern and St. Clair County Emergency Management Director Herb Simmons met with all of the county’s mayors, police chiefs and fire chiefs over the phone, asking all officials to be vigilant and get the word to the public that masks are necessary. While the county is within the state guidelines of having less than a 10% positivity rate, he worries St. Clair could be headed back to Phase 3.
Madison County, meanwhile, reported 43 new cases, bringing their total to 1,318. They have 71 deaths. Of Wednesday’s new cases, 29 involved people in their 20s or 30s, according to county health officials.
Madison County Health Department Public Information Officer Amy Yeager said cases were expected to rise steadily due to an increase of testing and the Phase 4 reopening of the state. But she said other factors could be accounting for the county’s four-day streak of high numbers, one of which was record-breaking for the county.
Currently, St. Clair and Madison county’s seven-day rolling averages are 52 and 33 cases per day, respectively. The majority of cases in the metro-east are coming from those two counties.
Several other counties throughout the metro-east reported new cases as well Wednesday. In Randolph County, 10 new cases were reported. Additionally, Monroe County reported four new cases, while Clinton County and Washington County each announced three new cases.
Overall, Wednesday marked the third-straight day the region eclipsed triple digits of new cases announced with 141.
The state announced 1,187 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 Wednesday but only eight additional virus-related deaths.
Illinois has seen a total of 7,226 deaths during the pandemic as of Wednesday, officials reported. A total of 156,693 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, while more than 2 million people have been tested for COVID-19, including 38,161 since Tuesday.
Additionally, 1,454 people in Illinois are hospitalized due to COVID-19, officials reported. Of those, 324 patients were in the ICU and 130 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. The statewide positivity rate from July 8-14 was 3.1 percent, according to state health officials.
Here are the latest available statistics for southwestern Illinois counties. The number in parenthesis reflects how the new daily total compares to the prior day total. Subtractions occur when a COVID-19 positive patient is misdiagnosed or moves away from the area.
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 78 new positives, no new deaths, one less hospitalization, 612 new tests administered, three new pending tests, 47 new recoveries
Total overall: 2,654 positives, 147 deaths, 24,540 tests administered, 45 pending results, 1,939 recoveries, 29 hospitalizations, no people on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives (ZIP codes with five or fewer cases are not reported):
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 9 +(2)
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 145
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 89
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 84
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 99 (+1)
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 246 (+8)
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 144 (+8)
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 142 (+6)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 234 (+2)
- 62221 (Belleville): 234 (+6)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 99 (+5)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 10 (+1)
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 276 (+5)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 58 (+2)
- 62239 (Dupo): 24
- 62243 (Freeburg): 12
- 62254 (Lebanon): 104
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 8
- 62257 (Marissa): 13
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 31
- 62260 (Millstadt): 25 (+2)
- 62264 (New Athens): 60
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 151 (+3)
- 62285 (Smithton): 23
MADISON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 43 new positives, 535 new tests administered, three new recoveries
Total overall: 1,318 positives, 71 deaths, 25,356 tests administered, 677 recoveries, 111 hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 197
- 62010 (Bethalto): 49
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 12
- 62024 (East Alton): 19
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 177
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 102
- 62035 (Godfrey): 77
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 251
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 61
- 62062 (Maryville): 21
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 17
- 62095 (Wood River): 31
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 176 (+7)
- 62249 (Highland): 26
- 62294 (Troy): 51
- 62067 (Moro): 8
- 62281 (St. Jacob): 8
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 10 new positives
Total overall: 337 positives, seven deaths, 4,386 tests administered, no hospitalizations, 285 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62233 (Chester): 118
- 62237 (Coulterville): 7
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 7
- 62242 (Evansville): 7
- 62272 (Willisville, Percy): 50
- 62278 (Red Bud): 23
- 62286 (Sparta): 57
- 62288 (Steeleville): 33
CLINTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Three new positives
Total overall: 262 positives, 17 deaths, no hospitalizations, 230 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62230 (Breese): 28
- 62231 (Carlyle): 88
- 62265 (New Baden): 45
- 62293 (Trenton): 11
- 62801 (Centralia): 70
MONROE COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Four new cases
Total overall: 172 positives, 12 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 59
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 14
- 62298 (Waterloo): 76
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Wednesday’s data: No new data
Total overall: 72 positives, four deaths, 6,399 tests administered, 65 recoveries, 34 tests pending
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62012 (Brighton): 17
- 62069 (Mount Olive): 11
- 62088 (Staunton): 9
PERRY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 63 positives, 58 recoveries, one death
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 6
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 14
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 18
JERSEY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: One new positive
Total overall: 47 positives, one death, 34 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 20
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Three new positives
Total overall: 28 positives, 19 recoveries
BOND COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 22 positives, one death, 12 recoveries, 1,299 tests administered
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62246 (Greenville): 10
CALHOUN COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: Two positives, 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 afternoon:
- Illinois: 155,693 cases, 7,226 deaths
- U.S.: 3,592,189 cases, 139,727 deaths, 1,624,586 recoveries
- World: 13,605,092 cases, 584,092 deaths, 7,956,981 recoveries
COVID-19 testing sites in Fairview Heights, Dupo
The St. Clair County Health Department announces the following COVID-19 community testing sites:
- Dupo: 10 a.m. to noon at 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at Dupo Park, 800 Bluffview Elementary Lane, Dupo.
- Fairview Heights: 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, at Moody Park, 525 S. Ruby Lane, Fairview Heights.
No appointment necessary, masks required.
Here is additional information about each testing site:
- Tests are free.
- People should bring their health insurance card if they have one.
- Testing adults and children over 3 years old.
- Photo identification required.
- Tests will be done by throat swab.
- The St. Clair County Health Department will call people with their results within 2-5 days* (normal turnaround time. Results may take longer depending on the number of tests being processed).
This is sponsored by St. Clair County Health Department, St. Clair County, SIHF Healthcare,Touchette Regional Hospital, IDP, the cities of Fairview Heights, Dupo, and East Carondelet. For more information call 618-825-4420
COVID-19 restrictions cancel date at Belle-Clair
Due to local restrictions on mass gatherings from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the DIRTcar Summer Nationals and Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals race originally scheduled for Sunday, July 26, at Belle-Clair Speedway has been canceled.
Belle-Clair has not hosted any racing events yet this season and does not foresee being able to open by July 26. However, the tours aim to return to the track in 2021.
For more information, visit ModifiedNationals.com or @SummerNationals.
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 July 15, 2020 at 4:55 PM.