Region 4 in southwestern Illinois sees slight decrease in COVID-19 positivity rate
Metro-east Region 4 saw a slight drop in its daily positivity rate of COVID-19 tests Wednesday.
As of Saturday, Region 4 had a positivity rate of 9.8%, but that figure dropped to 9.7% on Sunday. The Illinois Department of Public Health has provided the rate since June 26 at dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics. Information on the website is delayed by three days, so Sunday is the latest date information was available for Wednesday.
Additionally, the state’s COVID-19 positivity rate decreased Wednesday. The seven-day rolling average positivity rate for tests completed dropped to 4% after rising as high as 4.4% Aug. 20.
Meanwhile, the metro-east region reported 155 new coronavirus cases and two new deaths Wednesday. Madison County reported 59 new positive test results, up slightly from Tuesday’s 56 cases, and two new deaths — a woman in her 80s and a man in his 90s. It is unknown if they had underlying health conditions.
St. Clair County, meanwhile, reported 46 new positive test results Wednesday, down from 54 on Tuesday. Elsewhere in the metro-east, there were 20 new positives in Clinton County, 11 in Monroe County, nine in Washington County, eight in Randolph County and two in Bond County.
The state defines the metro-east region as St. Clair, Madison, Randolph, Clinton, Monroe, Bond and Washington counties.
Outside Region 4, nearby Perry County reported four new cases and two new deaths — a male in his 80s and a woman in her 90s. It is unknown if either had underlying health conditions. Additionally, Macoupin County reported eight new cases, Jersey County reported five new cases and Calhoun County reported two new cases.
Hospitalizations in Region 4 went up by three Wednesday, marking two consecutive days of hospital admission increases, according to the IDPH. If the region were to have seven consecutive days of increased hospitalizations, the state could implement more restrictions.
Currently, 27% of the region’s hospital beds and 40% of ICU beds are occupied, according to state health officials.
Rate of infection in Southwestern Illinois
The state has imposed restrictions on metro-east businesses for the past week because of the high positivity rate, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday more rules are coming Sept. 2.
One of the restrictions that started Aug. 18 was that bars, restaurants and casinos close at 11 p.m.
St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said Tuesday in the county’s daily COVID-19 briefing some businesses found a loophole to that rule.
“There are some that are cheating, and they’re the ones that are hurting the numbers,” Kern said during Tuesday’s briefing. “Specifically, we had liquor establishments that said, ‘Well, we’re gonna close at 11, but we’re gonna open at 12:01.’ They may think that’s smart, but it isn’t.
“These rules were put in place because we’re trying to slow the spread of this virus, and to get out there and try to find loopholes just to make a few bucks is really a sad thing.”
Pritzker said in a public appearance Tuesday indoor service would be banned at metro-east bars and restaurants starting next week.
St. Clair County’s latest rundown
St. Clair County has now recorded a total of 5,549 COVID-19 diagnoses and 174 deaths since the coronavirus pandemic began.
The county announced a daily positivity rate of 7.1% on Wednesday, up from 6.3% on Tuesday. The daily positivity rate is the percentage of positives from a day’s worth of coronavirus tests.
Officials announced Tuesday that 54 people were receiving treatment in St. Clair County hospitals for COVID-19, with three of those individuals on ventilators. Across the region, a total of 92 people were hospitalized with 10 of those individuals on ventilators, according to St. Clair County leaders.
The newly diagnosed St. Clair County residents ranged in age from under 1 to people in their 100s. Overall, 26 of the 46 cases were people in their 40s or younger.
At nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in the county, an increase of 18 cases was announced at Freeburg Terrace. Nursing homes reporting slight increases in cases included Bria of Belleville, Freeburg Care Center, Lebanon Care Center and Mercy Rehab & Care in Swansea. Overall, 23 new outbreak positives were reported Wednesday, the highest total since early June.
St. Clair County saw just one double-digit increase in COVID-19 cases in any of its zip codes — 62243 (Freeburg: +14 for a total of 68).
“In order for us not to roll back, the regional positivity rate has to be below that 6.5,” Herb Simmons, executive director of the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency, said during Wednesday’s briefing. “We’re all in this together. I think a lot of people are getting the word. We’ve just got to keep pushing forward and working on those numbers.
“Whatever you want to believe, just ask the doctors who’ve been on here ... we’ve got a long way to go it looks like until we get this vaccine.”
Madison County by the numbers
Madison County has recorded 3,675 diagnoses and 93 deaths.
The county reported a daily positivity rate of 12.24%, up from 11.13% on Tuesday. The county’s three-day positivity rate is 12.39% and its seven-day moving average positivity rate is 10.27%.
The latest residents to be diagnosed ranged in age from under 10 to in their 90s. Of the 59 new cases, 42 of them were in their 40s or younger.
Additionally, officials said 23 people were hospitalized in the county, with seven patients on ventilators.
Madison County saw a double-digit increase in COVID-19 cases in four ZIP codes Wednesday: 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place: +17 for a total of 419); 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey: +16 for a total of 557); 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana: +14 for a total of 485); and 62010 (Bethalto: +12 for a total of 150.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 2,157 new cases of the virus on Wednesday and 37 additional virus-related deaths — the highest single-day death total since early July.
Illinois has recorded a total of 7,954 deaths during the pandemic. A total of 225,627 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Nearly 3.9 million tests have been conducted for COVID-19, with 50,362 specimens tested in the past 24 hours.
As of Tuesday evening, 1,573 people in Illinois were hospitalized with COVID-19. Of those patients, 350 were in the ICU and 133 were on ventilators.
The statewide positivity rate from Aug. 19-25 was 4.0, down slightly from 4.1%.
Southwestern Illinois COVID-19 statistics
ZIP-code-level numbers below are provided by the state each afternoon at dph.illinois.gov/covid19/covid19-statistics. Madison and Macoupin counties compile their own statistics by ZIP code 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 county health departments provide.
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:
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 46 positives, 650 tests administered, 66 recoveries, five hospitalizations
Total overall: 5,549 positives, 174 deaths, 59,127 tests administered, 4,687 recoveries, 54 hospitalizations, three people on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 11
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 218
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 174
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 126
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 176
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 402
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 224
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 339 (+1)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 438 (+3)
- 62221 (Belleville): 523 (+6)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 315 (+1)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 22
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 590 (+5)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 141
- 62239 (Dupo): 74
- 62240 (Dupo): 24
- 62243 (Freeburg): 68 (+14)
- 62254 (Lebanon): 185 (+2)
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 15 (+1)
- 62257 (Marissa): 29 (+1)
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 126 (-1)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 89
- 62264 (New Athens): 78 (-1)
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 425 (+3)
- 62282 (St. Libory): 7
- 62285 (Smithton): 56 (+1)
MADISON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 59 positives, two deaths, 82 tests, 11 recoveries
Total overall: 3,675 positives, 93 deaths, 54,219 tests administered, 1,697 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 16 (+1)
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 557 (+16)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 150 (+12)
- 62012 (Godfrey): 15
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 33 (+1)
- 62021 (Dorsey): 10 (+1)
- 62024 (East Alton): 69 (+8)
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 485 (+14)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 209 (+3)
- 62035 (Godfrey): 199 (+5)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 581
- 62046 (Hamel): 6
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 8
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 95 (+1)
- 62061 (Marine): 23 (+2)
- 62062 (Maryville): 84 (+3)
- 62067 (Moro): 33
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 14
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 16
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 29
- 62095 (Wood River): 119 (+4)
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 32 (+2)
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 419 (+17)
- 62249 (Highland): 208 (+7)
- 62281 (St. Jacob): 40 (+2)
- 62294 (Troy): 176 (+3)
62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley, Jamestown): 12
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Eight positives, 85 tests 13 recoveries
Total overall: 692 positives, eight deaths, 8,528 tests administered, 538 recoveries, two hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 13
- 62233 (Chester): 249 (+5)
- 62237 (Coulterville): 46 (+2)
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 13
- 62242 (Evansville): 14
- 62272 (Willisville, Percy): 61
- 62278 (Red Bud): 91 (+1)
- 62286 (Sparta): 112
- 62288 (Steeleville): 88
- 62292 (Tilden): 6
- 62297 (Walsh): 6
- 62916 (Campbell Hill): 8
CLINTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 20 positives, two recoveries, two hospitalizations
Total overall: 664 positives, 17 deaths, 428 recoveries, two hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 29
- 62216 (Aviston): 51 (+3)
- 62218 (Bartelso): 32 (+2)
- 62230 (Breese): 91 (+2)
- 62231 (Carlyle): 156
- 62245 (Germantown): 29 (+1)
- 62265 (New Baden): 101
- 62293 (Trenton): 82 (+1)
- 62801 (Centralia): 156 (+4)
MONROE COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 11 positives
Total overall: 425 positives, 13 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 190 (+6)
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 20
- 62298 (Waterloo): 198 (+8)
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Eight positives, 129 tests administered, three recoveries
Total overall: 359 positives, four deaths, 14,578 tests administered with 56 results pending, 85 recoveries, two hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 9
- 62012 (Brighton): 66 (+1)
62014 (Bunker Hill): 31 (+2)
62033 (Gillespie): 61
62069 (Mount Olive): 25
- 62088 (Staunton): 64 (+1)
- 62626 (Carlinville): 41 (+2)
- 62640 (Girard): 9
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 9
- 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman): 7 (+1)
- 62690 (Virden): 19 (+1)
PERRY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Four positives, two deaths, eight recoveries
Total overall: 284 positives, eight deaths, 210 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 13 (-1)
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 138 (+3)
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 77 (+2)
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 17
JERSEY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Five positives
Total overall: 251 positives, four deaths, 127 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 14
- 62031 (Fieldon): 9
- 62037 (Grafton): 25 (+1)
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 144 (+2)
BOND COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Two positives, 57 tests administered
Total overall: 121 positives, three deaths, 5,519 tests administered, two hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62246 (Greenville): 71 (+1)
- 62262 (Mulberry Grove): 8
- 62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley): 41 (+2)
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Nine positives, five recoveries
Total overall: 102 positives, one death, 84 recoveries, four hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 7
- 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 36 (+3)
- 62268 (Oakdale): 7
- 62271 (Okawville): 15
- 62808 (Ashley): 10 (+1)
- 62848 (Irvington): 10
CALHOUN COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Two positives
Total overall: 27 positives, 17 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62047 (Hardin): 8 (+2)
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: 225,627 cases, 7,954 deaths
- U.S.: 5,964,483 cases, 182,656 deaths, 3,256,201 recoveries
- World: 24,116,394 cases, 824,750 deaths, 16,651,940 recoveries
St. Clair County, Madison County, Clinton County testing sites
The following drive thru test sites will be open to the public this week:
- Thursday, Aug. 27: Clinton County Fairgrounds, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Friday, Aug. 28: Chamber of Commerce of Southwestern Madison County, 3600 Nameoki Road in Granite City, from 8 a.m. to 4 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.
- Saturday, Aug. 29: Store Co. Self Storage, 1401 Vaughn Road in Wood River, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 30: Madison County Administration building back parking lot, 157 N. Main St. in Edwardsville, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
No appointment is necessary. Masks are required.
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 26, 2020 at 6:15 PM.