Metro-east’s rate of positive COVID-19 tests rises again. It’s the highest in Illinois
The metro-east’s positivity rate again saw an increase Wednesday.
The Illinois Department of Public Health’s website reported a 9.5% seven-day rolling average of positive cases for the metro-east, the highest in the state. The rate stood at 9.4% Tuesday and has steadily increased for 10 days in a row.
On Wednesday, 181 new cases and no new deaths were reported in metro-east counties, also known as Region 4. The region includes St. Clair, Madison, Randolph, Clinton, Monroe, Washington and Bond counties.
St. Clair County had 72 new cases and no new deaths, while Madison had 66 new cases and no new deaths. Randolph County reported 22 new cases, Clinton County reported eight new cases, and Monroe County announced three new cases. Washington and Bond counties did not report any new cases Wednesday.
Outside Region 4, nearby Perry County reported seven new cases Wednesday, while Macoupin County reported six new cases and Calhoun County reported four new cases. Jersey County also reported seven new cases and the county’s health department noted on their Facebook page they’ve had 58 new cases in the past eight days.
Additionally, Region 4 saw its third day of increases in hospitalizations. If the region has seven consecutive days of increased hospitalizations, the state could implement more restrictions.
Currently, 33% of the region’s hospital beds and 43% of ICU beds are occupied, according to state health officials. On Monday 35% of hospital beds and 45% of ICU beds were occupied.
Two counties in southwestern Illinois — Clinton and Perry — are at the state’s warning level due to certain metrics of COVID-19 spread. The state puts counties on this warning list for “numerous” indicators including number of deaths, new cases, weekly test positivity, ICU availability and more.
New restrictions in place as positivity rises
New restrictions started in the metro-east Tuesday to try to slow further spread of COVID-19. The new efforts are part of the Restore Illinois plan and went into effect after the region had three days of positivity rates higher than 8%.
Restrictions include closing bars, restaurants, and casinos by 11 p.m., closing party buses and the reduction of gathering sizes to fewer than 25 people or 25% of room capacity.
The measures will remain in effect over a 14-day period. Then the state could implement more stringent restrictions, such as the closing of indoor bars and dining, if needed. The region is on the first of three tiers of mitigation efforts.
St. Clair County’s latest rundown
St. Clair County now has 5,077 coronavirus cases and 160 deaths related to the virus, leading the metro-east in both categories.
The county announced a daily positivity rate of 7.2% on Wednesday, down from 8.8% on Tuesday. The daily positivity rate is the percentage of positive coronavirus tests that are taken that day.
The county announced Wednesday that 40 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19, with four people on ventilators.
New cases ranged in age from young people under 10 to people in their 90s. Of the 72 new cases, 37 people were in their 30s or younger. Two new COVID-19 cases were reported at St. Paul’s Home of Belleville.
St. Clair County saw a double-digit increase in COVID-19 cases in one ZIP code Wednesday: 62221 (Belleville: +12 for a total of 470).
“The 9.5% regional positivity rate is still going in the wrong direction,” St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Director Herb Simmons said during Wednesday’s daily briefing. “For those of you doing your job out there, keep up the great work. People are going to die, we know that. But to die unnecessarily ... we need to look out for each other. You can either be part of the solution or part of the problem.”
Dr. Daniel Normansell, emergency medicine physician with HSHS Medical Group, was the guest during Wednesday’s briefing. He said he has noticed a sharp rise in younger people coming to the hospital with the virus.
“They’re not taking the precautions recommended, whether that’s not wearing masks, or being around too many people,” Normansell said.
He also cautioned people about equating COVID-19 to the flu.
“If you talk to someone who has COVID, they’re not going to tell you it’s just the flu,” he said.
Normansell added he’s seen a marked uptick in mental health issues as well.
“We’re seeing the effects of people in isolation and maybe they’re having a difficult time coping with the changes in their normal daily activities, especially young people who are used to being social,” he said. “They’re having difficulty coping to where they’re suicidal or feeling anxiety and they’re coming to the ER for help. We’re taking care of them, but it’s difficult with limited resources.”
Furthermore, Normansell encouraged people to go to the ER if they’re not feeling well, whether from mental or physical ailments.
“We keep ourselves protected and safe and we keep the patients protected and safe,” he said.
Madison County by the numbers
Madison County now has 3,241 coronavirus cases and 87 deaths.
The county reported a daily positivity rate of 11.87%. The county’s three-day positivity rate of 15.32% on Wednesday is up from 13.39% Tuesday, and its seven-day moving average positivity rate of 10.73% is up from 10.24% on Tuesday.
Cases ranged from young people under 10 to individuals in their 80s, including three cases where the age was unknown. Of the 66 new cases, 28 people were in their 30s or younger.
Nineteen people are hospitalized in Madison County and one patient is on a ventilator.
Madison County saw a double-digit increase in COVID-19 cases in two ZIP codes Wednesday: 62002 (Alton, East Alton and Godfrey: +16 for a total of 492) and 62249 (Highland: +15 for a total of 174).
Illinois reports highest daily COVID-19 cases since May
Meanwhile, the state announced 2,295 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday — the highest daily total since late May — and 25 additional virus-related deaths.
Illinois has seen a total of 7,806 deaths during the pandemic as of Wednesday, officials reported. A total of 211,889 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, while nearly 3.5 million people have been tested for COVID-19, 50,299 of which were tested since Tuesday. That mark sets a one-day testing record.
Currently, 1,519 people in Illinois are in the hospital with COVID-19, and of those patients, 334 are in the ICU and 144 patients are using ventilators.
As of Wednesday, the preliminary seven-day statewide positivity rate from Aug. 12-18 was 4.4%.
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
Wednesday’s new data: 72 new cases, 1,005 new tests administered, no new deaths, 65 new recoveries, six fewer hospitalizations
Total overall: 5,077 positives, 160 deaths, 53,116 tests administered, 4,249 recoveries, 40 hospitalizations, four patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 10
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 208 (+1)
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 169 (+1)
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 125 (-1)
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 173 (+1)
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 373 (+1)
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 220
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 323 (+3)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 404 (+7)
- 62221 (Belleville): 470 (+12)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 285 (+6)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 22 (+2)
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 537 (+7)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 121 (+5)
- 62239 (Dupo): 66 (+2)
- 62240 (Dupo): 21 (+2)
- 62243 (Freeburg): 41 (+1)
- 62254 (Lebanon): 153 (+1)
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 14
- 62257 (Marissa): 26
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 96 (+3)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 87 (+2)
- 62264 (New Athens): 72
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 385 (+7)
- 62285 (Smithton): 49
MADISON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 66 new positives, 556 new tests administered, 40 new recoveries
Total overall: 3,241 positives, 87 deaths, 49,994 tests administered, 1,379 recoveries, 19 hospitalizations, one person on a ventillator
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 13
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 492 (+16)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 121 (+1)
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 28 (+2)
- 62021 (Dorsey): 8 (+1)
- 62024 (East Alton): 54 (+1)
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 433 (+8)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 195 (+2)
- 62035 (Godfrey): 181 (+8)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 550 (+2)
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 12 (+5)
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 88
- 62061 (Marine): 20
- 62062 (Maryville): 77 (+3)
- 62067 (Moro): 28 (+1)
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 12 (+1)
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 13 (+1)
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 28
- 62095 (Wood River): 94 (+3)
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 22 (+4)
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 357 (+3)
- 62249 (Highland): 174 (+15)
- 62275 (Pocahontas): 10 (+1)
- 62281 (St. Jacob): 37 (+2)
- 62294 (Troy): 160 (+7)
- 62012 (Godfrey, Brighton): 15
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 22 new positives, 241 new tests administered, five new recoveries
Total overall: 569 positives, seven deaths, 479 recoveries, 7,586 tests administered, three hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 13
- 62233 (Chester): 183 (+13)
- 62237 (Coulterville): 37 (+2)
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 13
- 62242 (Evansville): 14
- 62272 (Willisville, Percy): 61
- 62278 (Red Bud): 76 (+6)
- 62286 (Sparta): 98 (+4)
- 62288 (Steeleville): 72 (+5)
CLINTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Eight new positives, eight new recoveries
Total overall: 530 positives, 17 deaths, 377 recoveries, one hospitalization
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 21 (+3)
- 62216 (Aviston): 41 (+5)
- 62218 (Bartelso): 18 (+4)
- 62230 (Breese): 70 (+8)
- 62231 (Carlyle): 131 (+5)
- 62245 (Germantown): 25 (+1)
- 62265 (New Baden): 91
- 62293 (Trenton): 69 (+11)
- 62801 (Centralia): 131 (+6)
MONROE COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Three new positives
Total overall: 373 positives, 12 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 166 (+6)
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 16 (+1)
- 62298 (Waterloo): 168 (+8)
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Six new positives, 462 new tests administered
Total overall: 284 positives, four deaths, 13,640 tests administered with 26 pending results, two hospitalizations, 66 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 7 (+1)
- 62012 (Brighton): 50 (+4)
62014 (Bunker Hill): 20
62033 (Gillespie): 45
62069 (Mount Olive): 17
- 62088 (Staunton): 56
- 62626 (Carlinville): 39
- 62640 (Girard): 8
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 7
- 62690 (Virden): 16 (+1)
- 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman, IL): 6
PERRY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Seven new positives, 31 new recoveries
Total overall: 246 positives, four deaths, 157 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 12
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 103
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 60
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 10
JERSEY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Seven new positives
Total overall: 178 positives, two deaths, 95 recoveries, four hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 11
- 62037 (Grafton): 20
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 93
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No new data released
Total overall: 78 positives, 69 recoveries, four hospitalizations, one death
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 13
- 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 22
- 62271 (Okawville): 13
- 62808 (Ashley): 9
- 62848 (Irvington): 8 (+1)
BOND COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No new data released
Total overall: 81 positives, three deaths, 3,617 tests administered
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62246 (Greenville): 49
CALHOUN COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Four new positives, three new recoveries
Total overall: 19 positives, 13 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 Wednesday afternoon:
- Illinois: 211,889 cases, 7,806 deaths
- U.S.: 5,662,885 cases, 175,408 deaths, 3,012,093 recoveries
- World: 22,397,881 cases, 786,269 deaths, 15,122,381 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 drive thru test sites.
- Friday, Aug. 21: Fairview Heights Moody Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Monday, Aug. 24, & Tuesday, Aug. 25: Southwestern Illinois College from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, Aug. 25: Okaw Valley Park in New Athens from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m.
“Please use these testing sites. They’re free,” said Barb Hohlt, executive director of the St. Clair County Health Department during Wednesday’s daily briefing.
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 chidlren 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 19, 2020 at 4:53 PM.