Nine additional deaths in St. Clair County linked to COVID-19 at long-term care centers
The metro-east’s COVID-19 positivity rate held steady Friday, but still remains the highest in the state.
Meanwhile, St. Clair County announced that the coronavirus played a role in nine earlier deaths that had initially not been attributed to COVID-19.
The Illinois Department of Public Health’s website reported a 9.4% seven-day rolling average of positive cases for the metro-east, the same as Thursday’s average, which ended 10 straight days of increases.
Overall on Friday, 180 new cases and two 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 announced one new death Friday — a man in his 50s with underlying conditions.
However, Barb Hohlt, executive director of the St. Clair County Health Department, announced nine other deaths during the county’s daily briefing Friday, and those are all on the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency’s Facebook page.
Upon review by the Illinois Department of Public Health, COVID-19 was listed as a contributing factor in the nine deaths at long-term care centers. Those deaths included a man in his 70s, a woman in her 70s, a man in his 90s, a woman in her 90s, and a woman in her 100s, all with underlying health conditions; and a man in his 60s, a woman in her 60s, and two men in their 70s, all with no known health conditions.
That brings St. Clair County’s death total to 170.
Madison County, meanwhile, reported three new deaths Friday — one man in his 60s and two women in their 90s. It is unknown if they had pre-existing health conditions. That brings the county’s death total to 90 since the pandemic began.
Additionally, Monroe County reported one new death on Friday — a woman in her 70s with no known health conditions.
Madison County reported 76 new cases Friday, while St. Clair County reported 68. Additionally, Randolph County reported 13 new cases, Clinton County reported 11 new cases. Washington County reported eight new cases from the past 48 hours, and Monroe County announced four new cases. Bond County did not report any new data Friday or Saturday .
Outside Region 4, nearby Macoupon County reported 12 new cases Friday, Jersey County reported 10 new cases.
Hospitalizations in Region 4 also remained steady from Thursday to Friday, with no increase or decrease. If the region were to have seven consecutive days of increased hospitalizations, the state could implement more restrictions.
Currently, 31% of the region’s hospital beds and 36% of ICU beds are occupied, according to state health officials. On Thursday, 41% of ICU beds were occupied.
20 counties at warning level for COVID-19
Also on Friday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 20 counties in Illinois are considered to be at a warning level for coronavirus, including Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph and St. Clair from Region 4. Outside the region, Perry County in southwestern Illinois is at the warning level as well.
A county enters a warning level when two or more COVID-19 risk indicators that measure the amount of COVID-19 increase. These counties saw cases or outbreaks associated with weddings, businesses, neighborhood gatherings, parties, long-term care facilities and other congregate settings, travel to neighboring states, bars, sports camps, and spread among members of the same household who are not isolating at home.
Cases connected to schools are also beginning to be reported.
Public health officials are observing people not social distancing or using face coverings. Additionally, there are reports of people who are ill and attribute their symptoms to allergies or other illnesses, or not being forthcoming about their symptoms or close contacts.
New restrictions in place after 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 5,205 coronavirus cases and 170 deaths related to the virus, leading the metro-east in both categories.
The county announced a daily positivity rate of 9.1% on Friday, up from 5.3% on Thursday. The daily positivity rate is the percentage of positive coronavirus tests that are taken that day.
The county announced Friday that 38 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19, with two people on ventilators.
New cases ranged in age from young people in their teens to people in their 90s. Of the 68 new cases, 32 people were in their 30s or younger.
St. Clair County saw no double-digit increases in COVID-19 cases in any of its zip codes for a second-straight day Friday. The zip code with the largest increase of cases was 62221 (Belleville: +8 for a total of 480 ).
Recap of St. Clair’s daily briefing Friday
Internist Dr. Jiggar Hindia was the guest speaker Friday. He has recovered from COVID-19 and since has continued treating patients. He strongly recommended people should be proactive if experiencing coronavirus symptoms.
“If you feel like you have symptoms that resemble a COVID-19 case, I would absolutely recommend to see your primary doctor or get tested. The goal is to minimize the virus from spreading further,” he said.
Hindia also cautioned that COVID-19 is not the flu.
“This is 100 percent not the flu. I was talking to one of my colleagues who said this virus is very humbling ... We have never seen a virus that can do so much to a patient, one that is so contagious. The flu can be very serious. People can get very sick from the flu. But with this coronavirus, we’re seeing things we don’t see from the flu, such as blood clots and strokes that we don’t see with influenza. It is very different. This is no joke.
“I can tell you this is not the flu. It’s a different virus.”
Hindia’s cautionary tale certainly got the attention of Herb Simmons, director of the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency.
“For those of you who don’t want to wear a mask, watch your social distancing, it’s a slap in the face to our paramedics, our doctors, our EMS ... when you’re out there not following what is being recommended, listen to what this doctor had to say (about having COVID-19). He spent 14 days away from his family so he didn’t get them infected.
“Until the virus comes and knocks on your door, you naysayers aren’t going to wake up. You don’t want to have to go through what the doctor did,” Simmons said.
Madison County by the numbers
Madison County now has 3,380 coronavirus cases and 90 deaths.
The county reported a daily positivity rate of 12.18% on Friday, up from 7.63% on Thursday. The county’s three-day positivity rate of 10.22% was down from 10.36% on Thursday, and its seven-day moving average positivity rate of 10.80% rose slightly from 10.73% on Thursday.
Cases ranged from young people under 10 to individuals in their 80s, and of the 76 new cases, 27 people were in their 30s or younger.
Overall, 24 people are hospitalized in Madison County and four patients are on ventilators.
Madison County saw a double-digit increase in COVID-19 cases in one ZIP code Friday: 62002 (Alton, East Alton and Godfrey: +20 for a total of 522).
With Friday’s news of moving into the warning stage, Madison County Health Department Director Toni Corona lamented the county is trending in the wrong direction.
“As local public health, we have shared guidance, consultation, messaging, information, and data. We continue to promote and provide multiple testing site opportunities available in the county and the region every week, seven days a week,” she said. “We are working diligently to help positive cases understand the process and adhere to the guidelines. We continue to utilize contact tracing to identify people who have been in close contact with someone who is positive for COVID-19.”
Corona pleaded to the public to help.
“As public health, we can lead this response but we cannot be this response. We need each and every one of you to do your part by following the public health guidelines and adhering to the restrictions. We urge you to make healthy decisions for yourself, your family, and all of your fellow county citizens. Together, we can slow the spread of COVID-19 in Madison County,” Corona said.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths
Meanwhile, the state announced 2,208 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday and 24 additional virus-related deaths.
Illinois has seen a total of 7,857 deaths during the pandemic as of Friday, officials reported. A total of 215,929 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, while nearly 3.6 million people have been tested for COVID-19, 51,736 of which were tested since Thursday.
Currently, 1,526 people in Illinois are in the hospital with COVID-19, and of those patients, 351 are in the ICU and 121 patients are using ventilators.
As of Friday, the preliminary seven-day statewide positivity rate from Aug. 14-20 was 4.3%, down from 4.4% on Thursday.
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
Friday’s new data: 68 new cases, 747 new tests administered, 10 new deaths (only one new death from Friday), two fewer hospitalizations, 77 new recoveries
Total overall: 5,205 positives, 160 deaths, 54,991, tests administered, 4,358 recoveries, 38 hospitalizations, two patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 10
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 209
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 171 (+1)
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 126 (+1)
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 172
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 382 (+5)
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 221 (-1)
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 325 (+1)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 416 (+7)
- 62221 (Belleville): 480 (+8)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 293 (+3)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 22
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 541 (+4)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 130 (+5)
- 62239 (Dupo): 65
- 62240 (Dupo): 22 (+1)
- 62243 (Freeburg): 43 (+1)
- 62254 (Lebanon): 161 (+5)
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 14
- 62257 (Marissa): 26
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 103 (+3)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 89 (+1)
- 62264 (New Athens): 74 (+2)
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 395 (+4)
- 62285 (Smithton): 51 (+2)
MADISON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 76 new positives, three new deaths, 624 new tests administered, six new hospitalizations, one additional person on a ventilator, 42 new recoveries
Total overall: 3,380 positives, 90 deaths, 51,444 tests administered, 1,510 recoveries, 24 hospitalizations, four people on a ventilator
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 15 (+1)
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 522 (+20)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 131 (+5)
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 30 (+1)
- 62021 (Dorsey): 9 (+1)
- 62024 (East Alton): 57 (+2)
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 447 (+6)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 199
- 62035 (Godfrey): 188 (+4)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 558 (+2)
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 7
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 91 (+2)
- 62061 (Marine): 20
- 62062 (Maryville): 77
- 62067 (Moro): 28
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 13
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 14 (+1)
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 28
- 62095 (Wood River): 107 (+7)
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 25 (+3)
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 375 (+8)
- 62249 (Highland): 184 (+7)
- 62275 (Pocahontas): 10
- 62281 (St. Jacob): 38 (+1)
- 62294 (Troy): 163
- 62012 (Godfrey, Brighton): 15
- 62046 (Hamel): 6
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 13 new positives, 161 new tests administered, 10 new recoveries
Total overall: 608 positives, seven deaths, 498 recoveries, 7,766 tests administered, four hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 14 (+1)
- 62233 (Chester): 210 (+17)
- 62237 (Coulterville): 37
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 13
- 62242 (Evansville): 14
- 62272 (Willisville, Percy): 61
- 62278 (Red Bud): 78 (+2)
- 62286 (Sparta): 104 (+6)
- 62288 (Steeleville): 88 (+16)
CLINTON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 11 new positives, four new recoveries
Total overall: 565 positives, 17 deaths, 389 recoveries, two hospitalizations
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
Friday’s new data: Four new positives, one new death
Total overall: 384 positives, 13 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 175
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 16
- 62298 (Waterloo): 173
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 12 new positives, 140 new tests administered, one fewer hospitalization, six new recoveries
Total overall: 314 positives, four deaths, 13,780 tests administered with seven pending results, one hospitalization, 72 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 8 (+1)
- 62012 (Brighton): 58 (+8)
62014 (Bunker Hill): 24 (+4)
62033 (Gillespie): 50 (+5)
62069 (Mount Olive): 21 (+4)
- 62088 (Staunton): 60 (+4)
- 62626 (Carlinville): 39
- 62640 (Girard): 8
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 9 (+2)
- 62690 (Virden): 17 (+1)
- 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman, IL): 6
PERRY COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 251 positives, six deaths, 157 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 12
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 103
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 60
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 10
JERSEY COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 10 new positives
Total overall: 214 positives, two deaths, 95 recoveries, four hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 12 (+1)
- 62037 (Grafton): 21 (+1)
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 121 (+18)
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Friday’s new data (includes the past 48 hours): Eight new positives, seven new recoveries, four fewer hospitalizations
Total overall: 86 positives, 76 recoveries, one death
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 13
- 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 26 (+4)
- 62271 (Okawville): 14 (+1)
- 62808 (Ashley): 9
- 62848 (Irvington): 8
BOND COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 97 positives, three deaths, 4,047 tests administered
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62246 (Greenville): 49
CALHOUN COUNTY
Friday’s new data: One new recovery
Total overall: 19 positives, 14 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 Friday afternoon:
- Illinois: 215,929 cases, 7,857 deaths
- U.S.: 5,766,157 cases, 177,778 deaths, 3,100,582 recoveries
- World: 23,008,244 cases, 799,627 deaths, 15,627,244 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.
- Monday, Aug. 24, & Tuesday, Aug. 25: Southwestern Illinois College from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.
- Tuesday, Aug. 25: Okaw Valley Park in New Athens from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 26: Dupo Park, 800 Bluffview Elementary Lane, from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 29, & Sunday, Aug. 30: St. Clair Square mall by the water tower from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.
“We encourage everyone to come out to these mobile testing sites,” St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said during Friday’s daily briefing.
No appointment is 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, except at St. Clair Square Mall, which will be a nasal swab.
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 21, 2020 at 6:50 PM.