Metro-east may be one day away from state restrictions due to COVID-19 positivity rate
A shutdown may be imminent in the metro-east as the region’s COVID-19 positivity rate remained above the state-set threshold for a second day Saturday.
The Illinois Department of Public Health’s website reported an 8.4% seven-day rolling average for the metro-east, or Region 4, Saturday, the highest in the state. The state defines the metro-east region as St. Clair, Madison, Randolph, Clinton, Monroe, Washington and Bond counties.
Saturday marked the second day the metro-east was above the state thresholds that could bring back restrictions on when and where people can gather, and local officials worry Sunday will mark another day above the threshold.
St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Director Herb Simmons said the county is predicting an 8.5% rolling average for Sunday, which would send the metro-east into the first tier of the state’s program to slow the spread of COVID-19.
If 8% or more of the tests performed in the past seven days are positive for COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, for three consecutive days, the state says it will reimpose some restrictions that have been lifted.
Those restrictions fall into a tier system. The first tier would reduce indoor capacity at restaurants and bars and suspend indoor bar service, reduce elective surgeries and limit visitation at hospitals, limit gatherings in general and several other actions to combat the resurgence of COVID-19.
There are three tiers, each with more restrictive guidelines that can be triggered if the positivity rate holds at above 8%.
Statistics on the state’s website at dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics are delayed by three days, so Wednesday was the latest date information was available on Saturday. However, Simmons said it is possible the region’s shutdown fate has already been sealed due to the delay.
Additionally, the metro-east’s rate of diagnoses had increased for six days, and just 29% of medical and surgical beds in the region were available as of Tuesday. If this trend continues, it also could trigger restrictions.
Even if the rate of new diagnoses does not reach 8% for three days, the state would step in if the rate increases for seven out of 10 days and if hospital resources take a hit at the same time.
Two counties in southwestern Illinois — Clinton and Perry — are at the state’s warning level due to certain metrics of COVID-19 spread. Counties are put on this warning list for “numerous” indicators including number of deaths, new cases, weekly test positivity, ICU availability and more.
Counties report more COVID-19 cases in region
County health departments in the metro-east region reported a total of 128 new positive tests and four new deaths on Saturday as of 4:30 p.m.
St. Clair County accounted for the 69 of the new COVID-19 cases Saturday, up from 64 cases reported on Friday, while Madison County reported 49 cases, down from 76 reported Friday.
Monroe County also reported 10 new cases Saturday. No other counties had reported new cases as of 4:30 p.m.
Additionally, outside the metro-east region, Jersey County reported four additional COVID-19 positive patients and Calhoun County reported one.
St. Clair County’s latest rundown
St. Clair County now has 4,795 coronavirus cases and 160 deaths related to the virus, leading the metro-east in both categories.
Additionally, the county announced a daily positivity rate of 6.7% on Saturday, down from 7.6% on Friday. The positivity rate is the percentage of coronavirus tests that are positive among those tests taken that day.
The county announced Saturday that 51 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19, with no individuals on a ventilator.
New cases ranged in age from young people under 10 to people in their 80s. Of the 69 new cases, 51 were of people under 40. Specifically, two of the young people are under 10; seven of young people are in their teens; 21 are in their 20s and nine are in their 30s.
St. Clair County saw double-digit increase in COVID-19 cases in two zip codes Saturday: 62226 (Belleville, Swansea: +15 for a total of 502) and 62269 (O’Fallon: +12 for a total of 358).
The county also reported cases at the following congregate care facilities: Four Fountains (two new cases, no deaths) and Mercy Rehab Swansea (one new case, no deaths.)
Madison County by the numbers
Madison County, meanwhile, now has 2,916 coronavirus cases and 85 deaths.
The county reported a daily positivity rate of 6.06%, down from 9.28% on Friday, and its seven-day moving average positivity rate of 8.55% is down from 9.05% on Friday.
Cases ranged from young people under 10 to individuals in their 90s. Cases included eight young people in their teens, 10 people in their 20s, nine people in their 30s and five people in their 40s.
Illinois surpasses 2,000 COVID cases, nears 7,700 deaths
Meanwhile, the state announced 1,828 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday and five additional virus-related deaths.
Illinois has seen a total of 7,726 deaths during the pandemic, officials reported. A total of 204,519 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, while more than 3.3 million people have been tested for COVID-19.
Currently, 1,538 people in Illinois are in the hospital with COVID-19, and of those patients, 330 are in the ICU and 127 patients are using ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity rate from Aug. 8-15 was not available by 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
Southwestern Illinois COVID-19 statistics
The following are the latest available statistics by county. ZIP-code-level numbers are provided by the state each afternoon at dph.illinois.gov/covid19/covid19-statistics. Madison County compiles its own ZIP-code statistics from the state reporting system later in the day, so the numbers may differ from what appears on the Illinois Department of Public Health’s website.
The Belleville News-Democrat reports the information Madison County provides. ZIP codes with fewer than five cases of the virus are not reported by health officials. The number in parentheses after each ZIP code below reflects the change from the previous day’s cumulative 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 the required isolation period in most counties:
Here are the latest available statistics for southwestern Illinois counties. The number in parentheses reflects how the new daily total compares to the prior day’s total. Subtractions occur when a COVID-19 positive patient is misdiagnosed or moves away from the area.
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: 69 new positives, 1,035 new tests administered, 59 new recoveries, four additional hospitalizations
Total overall: 4,662 positives, 160 deaths, 48,737 tests administered, 3,915 recoveries, 51 hospitalizations, no patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 10
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 200
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 167 (+2)
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 124 (+2)
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 167
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 367 (-1)
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 219 (+2)
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 310 (+8)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 385 (+2)
- 62221 (Belleville): 440 (+9)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 248 (+5)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 19
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 502 (+15)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 109 (+1)
- 62239 (Dupo): 60 (+3)
- 62240 (Dupo): 19
- 62243 (Freeburg): 37 (+1)
- 62254 (Lebanon): 146 (+1)
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 13
- 62257 (Marissa): 26
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 84 (+5)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 81 (+6)
- 62264 (New Athens): 72
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 358 (+12)
- 62285 (Smithton): 48 (+1)
MADISON COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: 49 new positives, no new deaths, 809 new tests administered
Total overall: 2,916 positives, 85deaths, 47,503 tests administered, 1,254 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 11
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 438 (+7)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 112 (+4)
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 25
- 62021 (Dorsey): 7 (+1)
- 62024 (East Alton): 50 (+3)
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 403 (+7)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 186
- 62035 (Godfrey): 155 (+4)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 476 (+6)
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 6
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 82
- 62061 (Marine): 15
- 62062 (Maryville): 69
- 62067 (Moro): 26
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 9 (+1)
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 12
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 27
- 62095 (Wood River): 83 (+4)
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 16
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 340 (+8)
- 62249 (Highland): 152 (+3)
- 62281 (St. Jacob): 30
- 62294 (Troy): 152 (+1)
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: No new data as of 4:30 p.m.
Total overall: 512 positives, seven deaths, 456 recoveries, 7,039 tests administered, three hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 12
- 62233 (Chester): 163 (+1)
- 62237 (Coulterville): 33
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 12
- 62242 (Evansville): 13
- 62272 (Willisville, Percy): 59
- 62278 (Red Bud): 68 (+2)
- 62286 (Sparta): 90 (+3)
- 62288 (Steeleville): 567 (+1)
CLINTON COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: No new data as of 4:30 p.m.
Total overall: 464 positives, 17 deaths, 333 recoveries, three hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 17
- 62216 (Aviston): 28 (+3)
- 62218 (Bartelso): 14
- 62230 (Breese): 49 (+1)
- 62231 (Carlyle): 117 (+1)
- 62245 (Germantown): 23 (+1)
- 62265 (New Baden): 83 (+5)
- 62293 (Trenton): 50 (+3)
- 62801 (Centralia): 118 (-1)
MONROE COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: Ten new positives
Total overall: 350 positives, 12 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 152 (+6)
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 14
- 62298 (Waterloo): 148 (+5)
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: No new data as of 4:30 p.m.
Total overall: 250 positives, four deaths, 12,413 tests administered with 82 results pending, two hospitalizations, 54 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 6
- 62012 (Brighton): 39 (+1)
62014 (Bunker Hill): 17
62033 (Gillespie): 42 (+5)
62069 (Mount Olive): 14
- 62088 (Staunton): 38 (+8)
- 62626 (Carlinville): 37 (+2)
- 62640 (Girard): 8 (+1)
- 62690 (Virden): 12 (+1)
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 7
PERRY COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: No new data as of 4:30 p.m.
Total overall: 198 positives, three deaths, 116 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 12
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 95 (+7)
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 51 (+1)
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 8
JERSEY COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: Five new positives, seven new recoveries
Total overall: 149 positives, two deaths, 88 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 10 (+1)
- 62037 (Grafton): 14 (+2)
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 81 (+12)
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: No new data as of 4:30 p.m.
Total overall: 68 positives, 62 recoveries, four hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 7
- 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 21
- 62271 (Okawville): 12
- 62808 (Ashley): 9
- 62848 (Irvington): 7
BOND COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: No new data as of 4:30 p.m.
Total overall: 71 positives, three deaths, 3,617 tests administered
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62246 (Greenville): 44 (+2)
- 62275 (Pocahontas): 16 (+1)
CALHOUN COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: One new positive
Total overall: 13 positives, nine 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: 204,519 cases, 7,726 deaths
- U.S.: 5,322,232 cases, 168,335 deaths, 2,733,055 recoveries
- World: 21,173,009 cases, 765,029 deaths, 13,287,261 recoveries
St. Clair County, Madison County testing sites
Working with Illinois Department of Public Health and Southern Illinois Health Foundation, the St. Clair County Health Department is co-sponsoring the following test sites,with more test sites to be announced:
- Monday, Aug. 17: Shiloh Community Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, Aug. 18: Belleville West High School from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Friday, Aug. 21: Fairview Heights Moody Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
No appointment necessary. Masks are required. Test are free; people should bring their health insurance card if they have one. Testing is for adults and children over 3 years old.
Photo identification required. Tests will be done by throat swab by a medical professional.
Results may take up to a week to receive. Do not call for results. People will be contacted by the St. Clair County Health Department when the results area available.
Madison County is also hosting several test sites.
To view those, visit https://www.bnd.com/news/coronavirus/article244856052.html.
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 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 15, 2020 at 4:50 PM.