St. Clair County sees big drop in daily COVID-19 case count on Wednesday
A day after new restrictions were put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19, St. Clair County had positive numbers to report.
The county’s daily case count dropped from 85 on Tuesday to 57 on Wednesday, while the daily positivity rate dropped from 10.1% on Tuesday to 6.8% on Wednesday. The daily positivity rate is the percentage of positives from a day’s worth of coronavirus tests.
“Consistently, our numbers are headed downward,” St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said during Wednesday’s daily briefing.
New restrictions for the metro-east went into effect at 11 p.m. Tuesday. The added restrictions for bars, restaurants, social gatherings and more is an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the region.
Region 4, which includes St. Clair County, was given until Wednesday, Sept. 2, to get its seven-day rolling positivity rate down after new restrictions were implemented last week by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The region’s positivity rate remained steady at 9.6% Wednesday — the same rate as Tuesday. The Illinois Department of Public Health has provided the rate since June 26 at dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics and defines the region as St. Clair, Madison, Randolph, Clinton, Monroe, Bond and Washington counties.
Information on the website is delayed by three days, so Sunday, Aug. 30, is the latest date information was available for Wednesday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 30% of the region’s hospital beds and 44% of the ICU beds are available, according to state health officials.
In Madison County, 51 new cases of COVID-19 were reported — down from 57 on Tuesday — along with one new death — a woman in her 80s. It is unknown if she had any underlying health conditions.
Elsewhere in the metro-east, Clinton County reported 13 new cases of COVID-19, Monroe County reported 12 new cases, Randolph County reported six new cases and Washington County reported five new cases. Bond County did not report any new data. Overall, Region 4 on Wednesday reported 144 new cases and the one new death.
Outside of Region 4, nearby Macoupin County reported five new cases Wednesday, while Perry County reported four new cases.
St. Clair County’s latest rundown
St. Clair County has now recorded a total of 5,992 COVID-19 diagnoses and 175 deaths since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Officials announced on Wednesday that 49 people were receiving treatment for COVID-19 in St. Clair County hospitals, one more than Tuesday. Three of those individuals are on ventilators, down from four on Tuesday, officials said. For Region 4, county officials noted, as of Wednesday afternoon, 94 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19, with 11 of those patients on ventilators.
The newly diagnosed St. Clair County residents ranged in age from children under 10 to people in their 90s. Of the 57 new cases, 45 were of people in their 40s or younger.
There were four new cases at congregate living homes in St. Clair County reported Wednesday: Three new cases at Integrity Healthcare of Smithton and one new case at St. Paul’s Home in Belleville.
The county saw one double-digit increase in cases in the 62269 (O’Fallon) zip code. Ten new cases were reported for a total of 471. Additionally, the county added a new zip code: 62282, which is for St. Libory. That village is reporting eight cases.
County officials noted every zip code but one in St. Clair now has at least five cases.
With the Labor Day weekend rapidly approaching, St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Director Herb Simmons said he hopes the county’s numbers continue in the right direction.
“I just ask that everybody use good sense. Hopefully, after Labor Day, those numbers will be OK,” he said.
He added: “If you don’t wear a mask, pat yourself on the back because you’re part of the problem. It’s (COVID-19) not a fun thing to have. We don’t wish that on anybody.”
Madison County by the numbers
Madison County has recorded 4,111 diagnoses and 101 deaths.
The county reported a daily positivity rate of 12.98% percent Wednesday, up from 9.12% on Tuesday. The county’s three-day positivity rate decreased from 11.40% on Tuesday to 11.38% on Wednesday and its seven-day moving average positivity rate rose from 11.60% on Tuesday to 11.66% on Wednesday.
The latest residents to be diagnosed with COVID-19 ranged in age from under 10 to in their 80s. Of the 51 new cases, 30 individuals were in their 40s or younger.
Additionally, officials said 28 people were hospitalized, down from 35 on Tuesday. Also, officials reported six patients were on ventilators as of Wednesday, down from five Tuesday.
The county saw one double-digit increase in cases in the 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey) zip code. Twelve new cases were reported for a total of 613.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 2,128 new cases of the virus Wednesday and 27 additional virus-related deaths.
A total of 238,643 Illinois residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and 8,091 people have died from the virus. More than 4.1 million tests have been conducted for COVID-19, with 32,751 of those tests being performed within the last 24 hours.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 1,596 people in Illinois were hospitalized with COVID-19. Of those patients, 347 were in the ICU — down from 362 on Tuesday — and 142 were on ventilators — down from 146 on Tuesday.
The statewide positivity for Aug. 26-Sept. 1 is 4.5%, up from 4.3% reported Tuesday.
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: 57 positives, 836 tests administered, 73 recoveries, three hospitalizations, one less person on a ventilator
Total overall: 5,992 positives, 175 deaths, 64,906 tests administered, 5,195 recoveries, 49 hospitalizations, three people on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 11
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 221
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 183 (+1)
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 128
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 181 (+3)
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 409 (+3)
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 230 (-1)
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 361 (+7)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 467 (+3)
- 62221 (Belleville): 566 (+3)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 336 (+4)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 23
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 628 (+3)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 156 (+1)
- 62239 (Dupo): 83 (+2)
- 62240 (Dupo): 28
- 62243 (Freeburg): 85 (+8)
- 62254 (Lebanon): 200 (+6)
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 16 (+1)
- 62257 (Marissa): 31
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 146 (+6)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 104 (+2)
- 62264 (New Athens): 85
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 471 (+10)
- 62282 (St. Libory): 8
- 62285 (Smithton): 67 (+5)
MADISON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 51 positives, one death, 393 tests administered, 11 recoveries
Total overall: 4,111 positives, 101 deaths, 57,959 tests administered, 1,871 recoveries, 28 hospitalizations, six people on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 19 (+1)
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 613 (+12)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 182 (+3)
- 62012 (Godfrey): 15
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 45 (+1)
- 62021 (Dorsey): 10
- 62024 (East Alton): 89 (+2)
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 528 (+8)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 218
- 62035 (Godfrey): 257 (+2)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 633 (+5)
- 62046 (Hamel): 7
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 9
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 99 (+2)
- 62061 (Marine): 24
- 62062 (Maryville): 88
- 62067 (Moro): 40
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 16
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 21
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 30
- 62095 (Wood River): 135
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 39 (+1)
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 463 (+5)
- 62249 (Highland): 247 (+2)
62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley, Jamestown): 18 (+1)
62281 (St. Jacob): 43 (+1)
62293: (Saint Morgan, Trenton):
- 62294 (Troy): 190 (+5)
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Six positives, eight recoveries
Total overall: 773 positives, eight deaths, 8,257 tests administered, 639 recoveries, one hospitalization
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 13
- 62233 (Chester): 287
- 62237 (Coulterville): 48
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 14
- 62242 (Evansville): 17
- 62272 (Willisville, Percy): 62
- 62278 (Red Bud): 106
- 62286 (Sparta): 122
- 62288 (Steeleville): 96
- 62292 (Tilden): 6
- 62297 (Walsh): 6
- 62916 (Campbell Hill): 11
CLINTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 13 positives, 21 recoveries, two hospitalizations
Total overall: 776 positives, 17 deaths, 553 recoveries, six hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 31
- 62216 (Aviston): 62
- 62218 (Bartelso): 41
- 62230 (Breese): 118
- 62231 (Carlyle): 171
- 62245 (Germantown): 38
- 62265 (New Baden): 109
- 62293 (Trenton): 94
- 62801 (Centralia): 188
MONROE COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 12 positives
Total overall: 473 positives, 13 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 197 (+6)
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 21 (+1)
- 62298 (Waterloo): 215 (+9)
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Five positives, four recoveries
Total overall: 406 positives, six deaths, 112 recoveries, four hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 12
- 62012 (Brighton): 69
62014 (Bunker Hill): 38
62033 (Gillespie): 71
62063 (Medora, Summerville, Kemper, Rockbridge): 7
62069 (Mount Olive): 27
- 62088 (Staunton): 72 (+4)
- 62626 (Carlinville): 43
- 62640 (Girard): 10
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 11
- 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman): 12 (+1)
- 62690 (Virden): 19
PERRY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Four positives, five recoveries
Total overall: 302 positives, 11 deaths, 233 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 14 (+1)
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 145 (+4)
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 87 (+4)
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 20 (+1)
JERSEY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No data
Total overall: 283 positives, six deaths, 149 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 14
- 62031 (Fieldon): 9
- 62037 (Grafton): 27
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 165
BOND COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No data
Total overall: 132 positives, three deaths, 8,790 tests administered, one hospitalization
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62246 (Greenville): 77
- 62262 (Mulberry Grove): 10
- 62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley): 45
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Five positives
Total overall: 121 positives, one death, 111 recoveries, six hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 24
- 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 42 (+4)
- 62268 (Oakdale): 7
- 62271 (Okawville): 17
- 62808 (Ashley): 11 (+1)
- 62848 (Irvington): 12
CALHOUN COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No data
Total overall: 27 positives, 25 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62047 (Hardin): 6
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: 238,643 cases, 8,091 deaths
- U.S.: 6,263,906 cases, 189,116 deaths, 3,498,209 recoveries
- World: 25,998,549 cases, 862,718 deaths, 18,260,513 recoveries
St. Clair County, Madison, Clinton counties testing sites
The following test sites will be open to the public this week:
- Thursday, Sept. 3: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Clyde C. Jordan Stadium, 4901 State St., East St. Louis
- Thursday, Sept. 3: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. House of Prayer to All Nations, 5501 N. Park Drive, Washington Park
- Thursday, Sept. 3: 9 a.m. to noon at America’s Central Port, 1635 W. First St., Granite City
- Friday, Sept. 4: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Clyde C. Jordan Stadium, 4901 State St., East St. Louis.
- Friday, Sept. 4: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Monroe County Annex Building, 901 Illinois Ave., Waterloo
- Saturday, Sept. 5: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds, 101 Calhoun Ave., Hardin
- Saturday, Sept. 5: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at North Alton Baptist Church, 2245 State St., Alton
- Saturday, Sept. 5: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Belleville East High School, 2555 W. Blvd., Belleville
- Sunday, Sept. 6: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds, 101 Calhoun Ave., Hardin
- Sunday, Sept. 6: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Coordinated Youth and Human Services, 2016 Madison Ave., Granite City
- Sunday, Sept. 6: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Belleville East High School, 2555 W. Blvd., Belleville
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.
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This story was originally published September 2, 2020 at 5:04 PM.