Metro-east positivity rate continues to rise with just days until state deadline
The daily positivity rate for Metro-East Region 4 in southwestern Illinois increased for the sixth day in a row, according to the latest available information.
As of Tuesday, Region 4’s positivity rate rose to 10.4 percent, up from 10 percent on Monday. The Illinois Department of Public Health has provided the rate since June 26 at dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics.
Three days straight of positivity rates above 8.5% last week triggered tighter restrictions for bars and restaurants in the area. A new deadline for still stricter regulations arrives on Sept. 2.
Information on the website is delayed by three days, so Monday is the latest date information was available for Friday.
The state’s COVID-19 positivity rate stayed the same Friday. The seven-day rolling average positivity rate for tests completed went from remained at 4.1% on Friday. That’s for the period of Aug. 21-27.
Meanwhile, the metro-east region reported 189 new coronavirus cases Friday but no new deaths. The state defines the metro-east region as St. Clair, Madison, Randolph, Clinton, Monroe, Bond and Washington counties.
St. Clair County reported 66 new positive test results Friday, down from two from Thursday. In Madison County, 72 new cases were reported, up from the 55 reported Thursday.
Madison County also reported two new deaths, a man in his 90s and a woman in her 70s. No additional information on the deaths were available.
Elsewhere in Region 4 on Friday, Clinton County reported 18 new cases, Bond County reported four and Monroe County reported three. Randolph County reported 16 cases and Washington reported 10.
Currently, 29% of the region’s hospital beds and 37% of the ICU beds are available, according to state health officials.
St. Clair County’s latest rundown
St. Clair County has now recorded a total of 5,683 COVID-19 diagnoses and 174 deaths since the coronavirus pandemic began.
The county announced a daily positivity rate of 7.8 percent on Friday, down from 8 percent on Thursday. The daily positivity rate is the percentage of positives from a day’s worth of coronavirus tests.
Officials announced Friday that 56 people were receiving treatment in St. Clair County hospitals for COVID-19, with three of those individuals on ventilators.
The newly diagnosed St. Clair County residents ranged in age from under 10 to people in their 80s. No additional information was immediately available.
At nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in the county, only Four Fountains in Belleville saw an increase — just one case.
St. Clair County saw just one double-digit increase in COVID-19 cases in any of its zip codes — 62269 (O’Fallon: +11 for a total of 441).
St. Clair County Emergency Agency Director Herb Simmons said the positivity rate in the region is still heading in the wrong direction. He said if things don’t change by Sept. 2, new restrictions could be implemented.
“We need to turn this around and we’re headed in the wrong direction,” he said.
Madison County by the numbers
Madison County has recorded 3,802 diagnoses and 95 deaths.
The county reported a daily positivity rate of 12.97% on Friday, down from 13.13% on Thursday. The county’s three-day positivity rate rose from 12.39% to 12.77% and its seven-day moving average positivity rate rose from 11.16% to 10.89%.
The latest residents to be diagnosed ranged in age from under 10 to in their 80s. Of the 72 new cases, 41 of them were in their 40s or younger.
Additionally, officials said 32 people were hospitalized in the county, down from 33 on Thursday. Also, officials reported seven patients were on ventilators as of Friday, down from nine on Thursday.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 2,149 new cases of the virus on Friday and 20 additional virus-related deaths.
Illinois has recorded a total of 7,997 deaths during the pandemic. A total of 229,483 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Nearly 3.9 million tests have been conducted for COVID-19, with 48,383 specimens tested in the past 24 hours.
As of Thursday evening, 1,631 people in Illinois were hospitalized with COVID-19. Of those patients, 352 were in the ICU — up from 350 on Thursday — and 132 were on ventilators — down from 151 on Thursday.
The statewide positivity rate from Aug. 20-26 was 4.1%, the same as it was on Thursday.
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
Friday’s new data: 66 positives, 842 tests administered, 78 recoveries, nine new hospitalizations, two more people on a ventilator
Total overall: 5,683 positives, 174 deaths, 60,823 tests administered, 4,831 recoveries, 56 hospitalizations, three person on a ventilator
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 11
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 220
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 175
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 127
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 176
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 403 (+1)
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 227 (+1)
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 342 (+1)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 443 (+3)
- 62221 (Belleville): 539 (+4)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 322 (+4)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 23 (+1)
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 600 (+6)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 143 (+1)
- 62239 (Dupo): 76 (+1)
- 62240 (Dupo): 25
- 62243 (Freeburg): 71 (+2)
- 62254 (Lebanon): 194 (+3)
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 15
- 62257 (Marissa): 31
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 130 (+4)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 94 (+3)
- 62264 (New Athens): 81
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 441 (+11)
- 62282 (St. Libory): 9
- 62285 (Smithton): 60 (+4)
MADISON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 72 new positives, 555 new tests administered, two new deaths, 61 new recoveries
Total overall: 3,802 positives, 95 deaths, 55,193 tests administered, 1,774 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 17
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 573 (+11)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 161 (+4)
- 62012 (Godfrey): 15
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 38 (+5)
- 62021 (Dorsey): 10
- 62024 (East Alton): 73 (+2)
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 499 (+7)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 210 (+1)
- 62035 (Godfrey): 223 (+11)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 594 (+7)
- 62046 (Hamel): 6
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 8
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 96
- 62061 (Marine): 23
- 62062 (Maryville): 86 (+2)
- 62067 (Moro): 36
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 14
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 18
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 29
- 62095 (Wood River): 125 (+4)
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 35 (+2)
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 429 (+5)
- 62249 (Highland): 221
- 62281 (St. Jacob): 41 (+1)
- 62294 (Troy): 177 (+1)
62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley, Jamestown): 13
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 16 new positives, 49 new tests administered
Total overall: 724 positives, eight deaths, 8,710 tests administered, 552 recoveries, one hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 13
- 62233 (Chester): 256
- 62237 (Coulterville): 48
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 13
- 62242 (Evansville): 14
- 62272 (Willisville, Percy): 61
- 62278 (Red Bud): 96
- 62286 (Sparta): 117
- 62288 (Steeleville): 92
- 62292 (Tilden): 6
- 62297 (Walsh): 6
- 62916 (Campbell Hill): 9
CLINTON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 18 new cases, three additional hospitalizations
Total overall: 699 positives, 17 deaths, 442 recoveries, five hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 29
- 62216 (Aviston): 55
- 62218 (Bartelso): 32
- 62230 (Breese): 91
- 62231 (Carlyle): 161
- 62245 (Germantown): 29
- 62265 (New Baden): 103
- 62293 (Trenton): 83
- 62801 (Centralia): 167
MONROE COUNTY
Friday’s new data: Three new cases
Total overall: 439 positives, 13 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 189
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 20
- 62298 (Waterloo): 206
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No data released as of 4:30 p.m.
Total overall: 371 positives, five deaths, 14,733 tests administered with 32 results pending, 93 recoveries, four hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 9
- 62012 (Brighton): 66
62014 (Bunker Hill): 34
62033 (Gillespie): 61
62069 (Mount Olive): 26
- 62088 (Staunton): 66
- 62626 (Carlinville): 42
- 62640 (Girard): 10
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 10
- 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman): 8
- 62690 (Virden): 19
PERRY COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No data released as of 4:30 p.m.
Total overall: 284 positives, eight deaths, 215 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 13
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 140
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 80
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 19
JERSEY COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No data released as of 4:30 p.m.
Total overall: 259 positives, five deaths, 127 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 14
- 62031 (Fieldon): 9
- 62037 (Grafton): 26
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 157
BOND COUNTY
Friday’s new data: Four new positives, one less hospitalization
Total overall: 132 positives, three deaths, 8,790 tests administered, one hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62246 (Greenville): 73
- 62262 (Mulberry Grove): 9
- 62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley): 42
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 10 new positives
Total overall: 119 positives, one death, 84 recoveries, four hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 7
- 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 36
- 62268 (Oakdale): 7
- 62271 (Okawville): 15
- 62808 (Ashley): 10
- 62848 (Irvington): 10
CALHOUN COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No data released as of 4:30 p.m.
Total overall: 27 positives, 17 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62047 (Hardin): 8
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: 229,483 cases, 7,977 deaths
- U.S.: 6,010,322 cases, 183,913 deaths, 3,315,079 recoveries
- World: 24,402,972 cases, 831,039 deaths, 16,926,223 recoveries
St. Clair County, Madison County testing sites
The following drive thru test sites will be open to the public this week:
- 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.
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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 28, 2020 at 4:32 PM.