COVID positivity rate in metro-east improves after 10 consecutive days of increases
The metro-east’s COVID-19 positivity rate decreased slightly Thursday after 10 days of increases. The rate remains the highest in the state.
The Illinois Department of Public Health’s website reported a 9.4% seven-day rolling average of positive cases for the metro-east, down from 9.5% Wednesday.
On Thursday, as of 6 p.m., 187 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 reported 60 new cases and Madison County reported 63. Monroe County announced seven new cases, Bond County, 16; Randolph County, 17; and Clinton County, 24.
Outside Region 4, nearby Perry County reported five new cases Thursday and two new deaths, while Jersey County had 26 new cases. Jersey County’s health department noted on its Facebook page that it had 58 new cases in the past eight days, bringing its nine-day total to 84.
Hospitalizations in Region 4 also were lower after three straight days of increases. 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 41% of ICU beds are occupied, according to state health officials. On Monday 33% of hospital beds and 43% 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 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 5,137 coronavirus cases and 160 deaths related to the virus, leading the metro-east in both categories.
The county announced a daily positivity rate of 5.3% on Thursday, down from 7.2% on Wednesday. The daily positivity rate is the percentage of positive coronavirus tests that are taken that day.
The county announced Thursday that 43 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19, with two people on ventilators.
New cases ranged in age from young people under 10 to people in their 90s. Of the 60 new cases, 30 people were in their 30s or younger.
At congregate living homes in the county, three new cases of COVID-19 were reported. The three new cases were reported from Caseyville Nursing & Rehab, Colonnade and Four Fountains.
St. Clair County saw no double-digit increases in COVID-19 cases in any of its zip codes Thursday. The zip code with the largest increase of cases was 62269 (O’Fallon), with an increase of six cases for a total of 391.
Madison County by the numbers
Madison County now has 3,304 coronavirus cases and 87 deaths.
The county reported a daily positivity rate of 7.63%. The county’s three-day positivity rate of 10.36% on Thursday is down from 15.32% Wednesday, and its seven-day moving average positivity rate of 10.73% remained the same.
Cases ranged from young people under 10 to individuals in their 90s, and of the 63 new cases, 30 people were in their 30s or younger.
Eighteen people are hospitalized in Madison County and three patients are on ventilators.
Madison County saw a double-digit increase in COVID-19 cases in two ZIP codes Wednesday: 62002 (Alton, East Alton and Godfrey: +10 for a total of 502) and 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place: +10 for a total of 367).
Illinois reports new cases, deaths
Meanwhile, the state announced 1,832 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and 27 additional virus-related deaths.
Illinois has seen a total of 7,833 deaths during the pandemic as of Thursday, officials reported. A total of 213,721 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, while nearly 3.5 million people have been tested for COVID-19, 51,612 of which were tested since Wednesday.
Currently, 1,519 people in Illinois are in the hospital with COVID-19, and of those patients, 357 are in the ICU and 124 patients are using ventilators.
As of Thursday, the preliminary seven-day statewide positivity rate from Aug. 13-19 was 4.4%, unchanged from Wednesday.
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
Thursday’s new data: 60 new cases, 1,128 new tests administered, no new deaths, three new hospitalizations, 32 new recoveries
Total overall: 5,137 positives, 160 deaths, 54,244 tests administered, 4,281 recoveries, 40 hospitalizations, two patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 10
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 209 (+1)
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 170 (+1)
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 125
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 172 (-1)
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 377 (+4)
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 222 (+2)
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 324 (+1)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 409 (+5)
- 62221 (Belleville): 472 (+2)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 290 (+5)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 22
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 541 (+4)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 125 (+4)
- 62239 (Dupo): 65 (-1)
- 62240 (Dupo): 21
- 62243 (Freeburg): 42 (+1)
- 62254 (Lebanon): 156 (+3)
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 14
- 62257 (Marissa): 26
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 100 (+4)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 88 (+1)
- 62264 (New Athens): 72
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 391 (+6)
- 62285 (Smithton): 49
MADISON COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 63 new positives, 826 new tests administered, 41 new recoveries, one less hospitalization
Total overall: 3,304 positives, 87 deaths, 50,802 tests administered, 1,338 recoveries, 18 hospitalizations, three people on a ventilator
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 14 (+1)
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 502 (+10)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 126 (+5)
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 29 (+1)
- 62021 (Dorsey): 8
- 62024 (East Alton): 55 (+1)
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 441 (+8)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 199 (+4)
- 62035 (Godfrey): 184 (+3)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 556 (+6)
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 7
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 89 (+1)
- 62061 (Marine): 20
- 62062 (Maryville): 77
- 62067 (Moro): 28
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 13 (+1)
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 13
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 28
- 62095 (Wood River): 98 (+4)
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 22
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 367 (+10)
- 62249 (Highland): 177 (+3)
- 62275 (Pocahontas): 10
- 62281 (St. Jacob): 37
- 62294 (Troy): 163 (+3)
- 62012 (Godfrey, Brighton): 15
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 17 new cases, one new hospitalization, 177 new tests administered, nine new recoveries
Total overall: 608 positives, seven deaths, 488 recoveries, 7,766 tests administered, four 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
Thursday’s new data: 24 new positives, 12 new recoveries, one new hospitalization
Total overall: 554 positives, 17 deaths, 389 recoveries, two 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
Thursday’s new data: seven new positives
Total overall: 380 positives, 12 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 166
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 16
- 62298 (Waterloo): 168
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
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
- 62012 (Brighton): 50
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
- 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman, IL): 6
PERRY COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: five new positives, two new deaths
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
Thursday’s new data: 26 new positives
Total overall: 204 positives, two deaths, 95 recoveries, four hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 11
- 62037 (Grafton): 20
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 93
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
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
Thursday’s new data: 16 new positives
Total overall: 97 positives, three deaths, 4,047 tests administered
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62246 (Greenville): 49
CALHOUN COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
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 Thursday afternoon:
- Illinois: 213,721 cases, 7,833 deaths
- U.S.: 5,662,440 cases, 175,408 deaths, 3,012,093 recoveries
- World: 22,427,054 cases, 788,015 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 is 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 20, 2020 at 5:31 PM.