St. Clair, Madison counties report 126 new coronavirus cases, 1 more death Saturday
Officials in St. Clair and Madison counties announced Saturday that 126 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in their communities.
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease (and can affect other organs and systems) caused by the new coronavirus. One new death from the disease was also recorded on Saturday.
A St. Clair County resident in his 60s has died. Officials said he had underlying health conditions.
Elsewhere in the metro-east, Monroe County reported seven additional cases of the virus. Other counties had not yet provided updates on Saturday.
Statewide, there were 2,190 new cases and 18 new deaths announced Saturday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 statistics.
Threshold for state-imposed COVID restrictions
As of Wednesday, the latest date information was available, an average of 7.1% of the coronavirus tests performed in the metro-east over the past seven days were positive, a higher rate than Chicago or any other region of Illinois.
State officials define the metro-east as St. Clair, Madison, Clinton, Randolph, Monroe, Washington and Bond counties.
One of the state’s benchmarks for bringing back restrictions on businesses and activities is when 8% or more of the tests are positive on average for three consecutive days. In the metro-east, that number has been at least 6% since July 12, and it has gotten as high as 7.8% on July 25.
St. Clair County officials discussed the rate of new positives, known as the positivity rate, during a virtual COVID-19 briefing on Facebook on Saturday.
“It’s creeping back up there,” said Herb Simmons, director of St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency. “The answer to that is more testing.”
Bryan Whitaker, assistant director of the agency, added that experts recommend testing even for those who do not feel ill because some infected people have no symptoms. Without testing, they would not know they caught the virus and could be passing it on to others.
“Testing is an important process of this to determine where the virus is,” Whitaker said in Saturday’s briefing.
Metro-east area leaders, from mayors to police chiefs, have been sharing the state’s safety guidelines on their websites and social media in recent weeks as the positivity rate climbed. They sought compliance with the rules, which call for face masks in public places, at least 6 feet of distance between people and no more than 50 people in a crowd.
Simmons said during briefings both Friday and Saturday that he has seen more shoppers wearing masks inside stores lately.
“We know the word’s getting out there,” he said Saturday. “... Remember, wear your mask, wash your hands and watch your social distancing, and as I say all the time, if you do that, you will be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem.”
Simmons encouraged anyone who sees customers or employees not following the rules to contact the business owner about it.
On Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration filed an emergency rule to give local authorities more power to enforce the state mask mandate at schools, businesses and childcare facilities. After a reminder of the rule and a warning about a violation, authorities could ultimately fine a business or agency.
The proposed emergency rule has to go to a committee of legislators for approval. Sen. Paul Schimpf, R-Waterloo, is a member of the committee that will consider it.
Some cities are discussing their own mask ordinances to potentially fine citizens for breaking the rule, including in East St. Louis, Cahokia, Fairview Heights, O’Fallon and Edwardsville.
Increase in hospitalizations
Simmons, of the Emergency Management Agency, said officials continue to monitor the number of people being treated for COVID-19-like illnesses in St. Clair County hospitals. The number of patients increased from 41 on Friday to 50 on Saturday at the county’s four hospitals.
The average number of patients hospitalized over a seven-day period has been rising since Aug. 1 in St. Clair County.
“I had one of the physicians text me a week or so back late at night and just said they’re seeing more patients coming to the ER, which is really alarming to them,” Simmons said Saturday.
Southwestern Illinois COVID-19 statistics
The following are the latest available statistics by county. ZIP-code level numbers are provided by the state. ZIP codes with fewer than five cases of the virus are not reported. The number in parentheses reflects the change from the previous day’s total. A decrease reflects a correction. All other information comes from local health departments. The “recoveries” figure refers to the number of people who completed 14 days of isolation in most counties:
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: 62 new positives, one new death, 593 new tests administered, 75 new recoveries, 9 new hospitalizations
Total overall: 4,344 positives, 158 deaths, 43,168 tests administered, 3,275 recoveries, 50 hospitalizations with 2 patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 10
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 190 (+1)
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 159 (+3)
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 120 (+1)
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 161
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 357 (+3)
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 208 (+4)
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 278 (+3)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 357 (+6)
- 62221 (Belleville): 384 (+5)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 208 (+6)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 17
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 445 (+5)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 93 (+3)
- 62239 (Dupo): 53
- 62240 (Dupo): 17
- 62243 (Freeburg): 33 (+1)
- 62254 (Lebanon): 131 (+1)
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 13
- 62257 (Marissa): 23
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 75 (+2)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 66 (+2)
- 62264 (New Athens): 70
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 310 (+5)
- 62285 (Smithton): 40 (+1)
MADISON COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: 64 new positives, 713 new tests administered, 31 new recoveries
Total overall: 2,504 positives, 77 deaths, 42,687 tests administered, 1,145 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 9
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 350 (+13)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 93 (+2)
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 26 (+1)
- 62024 (East Alton): 42
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 361 (+3)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 172 (+1)
- 62035 (Godfrey): 133 (+4)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 432 (+10)
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 6
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 79 (+2)
- 62061 (Marine): 15
- 62062 (Maryville): 64 (+1)
- 62067 (Moro): 17 (+1)
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 8 (+1)
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 11
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 25 (+1)
- 62095 (Wood River): 69 (+2)
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 12
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 282 (+10)
- 62249 (Highland): 108 (+7)
- 62281 (St. Jacob): 22 (+1)
- 62294 (Troy): 139 (+3)
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: no new data released
Total overall: 462 positives, seven deaths, 6,439 tests administered, 422 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 12
- 62233 (Chester): 154
- 62237 (Coulterville): 26
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 10
- 62242 (Evansville): 11
- 62272 (Willisville, Percy): 59
- 62278 (Red Bud): 64
- 62286 (Sparta): 85
- 62288 (Steeleville): 53
CLINTON COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: no new data released
Total overall: 391 positives, 17 deaths, 303 recoveries, three hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 13
- 62216 (Aviston): 25
- 62218 (Bartelso): 13
- 62230 (Breese): 46
- 62231 (Carlyle): 110
- 62245 (Germantown): 19
- 62265 (New Baden): 78
- 62293 (Trenton): 41
- 62801 (Centralia): 111
MONROE COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: seven new positives
Total overall: 313 positives, 12 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 140
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 14
- 62298 (Waterloo): 138
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: 14 new positives, 278 new tests administered
Total overall: 190 positives, four deaths, 11,361 tests administered with 83 results pending, 54 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62012 (Brighton): 42
62014 (Bunker Hill): 12
62033 (Gillespie): 25
62069 (Mount Olive): 14
- 62088 (Staunton): 24
- 62626 (Carlinville): 32
- 62640 (Girard): 7
- 62690 (Virden): 12
PERRY COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: no new data to be released until Monday, according to the health department
Total overall: 149 positives, one death, 91 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 12
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 60
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 49
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 8
JERSEY COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: seven new positives
Total overall: 110 positives, two deaths, 67 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 8
- 62037 (Grafton): 11
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 56
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: no new data released
Total overall: 63 positives, 56 recoveries, four hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 6
- 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 21
- 62271 (Okawville): 12
- 62808 (Ashley): 9
- 62848 (Irvington): 7
BOND COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: no new data released
Total overall: 61 positives, three deaths, 2,995 tests administered, one hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62246 (Greenville): 41
CALHOUN COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: no new data released
Total overall: nine positives, six recoveries
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 Saturday afternoon:
- Illinois: 192,698 cases, 7,631 deaths
- U.S.: 4,964,430 cases, 161,810 deaths, 1,623,870 recoveries
- World: 19,440,423 cases, 722,706 deaths, 11,784,574 recoveries
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 healthcare 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 August 8, 2020 at 6:17 PM.
