Southwest Illinois again eclipses 100 new daily COVID-19 cases, but has no new deaths
Southwestern Illinois saw another distressing day in new COVID-19 cases Thursday.
Overall, the region announced 145 new cases Thursday, marking the fourth straight day of more than 100 reported cases. St. Clair County reported 71 new cases and Madison County reported 47 new cases.
Furthermore, in the metro-east, 6.6% of cases have come back positive, nearing the threshold of 8%, according to the state’s new regional map. If that trend continues, the region could see restrictions in the next week or two.
St. Clair County now has 2,803 coronavirus cases and 147 deaths related to the virus, leading the metro-east in both categories. The county on Wednesday had announced a single-day high of 78 new cases and currently has a weekly positivity level of 10.1%.
Cases reported Thursday ranged in ages from under 10 to people in their 90s, including 11 cases of individuals in their teens, 15 cases of people in their 20s and 10 cases of individuals in their 30s. Currently, 24 individuals remain hospitalized but none are on a ventilator in St. Clair County.
During St. Clair County’s weekly briefing Thursday, officials discussed the recent spike in coronavirus cases.
“We saw something similar to this over the Memorial Day holiday, and now we’ve had the Fourth of July; we’re seeing this spike. So we’re hoping by Sunday or Monday this week that we see those numbers start to go down,” said Herb Simmons, St. Clair County’s Emergency Management Agency director.
Simmons said the county is seeing the same trend as the state with younger people testing positive more often now — specifically those who are 20-29 years old.
St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern said the most common explanation residents have been giving for how they were infected is “we had a gathering with friends” where people were not wearing masks. Others have said they were on vacation, according to Kern.
“People tend to let their guard down. They want to have fun. They’re on vacation, so wearing a mask isn’t always the first thing in your mind,” Kern said. “But unfortunately, until we get a vaccine, until it starts to work and we get those levels low, a mask is in our future.”
Madison County now has 1,365 coronavirus cases and 71 virus-related deaths to go with a daily positivity rate of 5.63%. Of Thursday’s new cases, 22 involved people in their 20s or 30s, according to county health officials.
Currently, St. Clair and Madison county’s seven-day rolling averages are 56 and 36 cases per day, respectively. Those numbers are up from 52 and 33 on Wednesday. The majority of cases in the metro-east are coming from those two counties.
Several other counties throughout the metro-east reported new cases Thursday as well. In Monroe County, 12 new cases were reported, marking the ninth-straight day the county has announced new cases. Clinton County and Randolph County each reported six new cases and Perry County reported two new cases.
The state announced 1,257 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 Thursday and 25 additional virus-related deaths.
Illinois has seen a total of 7,251 deaths during the pandemic as of Thursday, officials reported. A total of 157,950 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, while more than 2.1 million people have been tested for COVID-19, including 43,006 since Wednesday.
Additionally, the IDPH reported the preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from July 9-15 is 3.1%. As of last night, 1,434 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 311 patients were in the ICU and 127 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators, 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
Thursday’s new data: 71 new positives, no new deaths, one less hospitalization, 769 new tests administered, 47 new recoveries, five fewer hospitalizations
Total overall: 2,803 positives, 147 deaths, 25,309 tests administered, 206 pending results, 1,939 recoveries, 24 hospitalizations, no people on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives (ZIP codes with five or fewer cases are not reported):
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 9
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 145
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 92 (+3)
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 86 (+2)
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 100 (+1)
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 258 (+12)
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 146 (+2)
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 145 (+3)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 241 (+7)
- 62221 (Belleville): 238 (+4)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 106 (+3)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 10
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 279 (+3)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 60 (+2)
- 62239 (Dupo): 24
- 62243 (Freeburg): 12
- 62254 (Lebanon): 103 (-1)
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 8
- 62257 (Marissa): 14 (+1)
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 32 (+1)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 25
- 62264 (New Athens): 60
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 156 (+5)
- 62285 (Smithton): 24 (+1)
MADISON COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 47 new positives, no new deaths, 835 new tests administered, two new recoveries
Total overall: 1,365 positives, 71 deaths, 26,191 tests administered, 679 recoveries, 111 hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 199 (+2)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 52 (+3)
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 12
- 62024 (East Alton): 19
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 187 (+10)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 106 (+4)
- 62035 (Godfrey): 77 (+2)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 257 (+6)
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 62 (+1)
- 62062 (Maryville): 21
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 17
- 62095 (Wood River): 33 (+2)
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 187 (+11)
- 62249 (Highland): 28 (+2)
- 62294 (Troy): 56 (+5)
- 62067 (Moro): 9 (+1)
- 62281 (St. Jacob): 8
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: Six new positives
Total overall: 343 positives, seven deaths, 4,251 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
Thursday’s new data: Six new positives, three new recoveries
Total overall: 268 positives, 17 deaths, no hospitalizations, 233 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62230 (Breese): 28
- 62231 (Carlyle): 88
- 62265 (New Baden): 45
- 62293 (Trenton): 11
- 62801 (Centralia): 70
MONROE COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 12 new positives
Total overall: 184 positives, 12 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 59
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 14
- 62298 (Waterloo): 76
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Thursday’s data: No new data
Total overall: 82 positives, four deaths, 7,503 tests administered, 54 recoveries, 66 tests pending
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62012 (Brighton): 19
- 62069 (Mount Olive): 11
- 62088 (Staunton): 9
62014 (Bunker Hill): 7
62626 (Carlinville): 16
62033 (Gillespie): 8
PERRY COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: Two new positives
Total overall: 65 positives, 58 recoveries, one death
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 6
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 14
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 18
JERSEY COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: One new positive
Total overall: 51 positives, one death, 34 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 20
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 28 positives, 19 recoveries
BOND COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 21 positives, one death, 12 recoveries, 1,299 tests administered
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62246 (Greenville): 10
CALHOUN COUNTY
Thursday’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 Thursday afternoon:
- Illinois: 157,950 cases, 7,251 deaths
- U.S.: 3,649,526 cases, 140,526 deaths, 1,647,761 recoveries
- World: 13,810,247 cases, 589,22 deaths, 8,217,073 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 16, 2020 at 4:38 PM.