Test backlog cleared, Region 4 in southwest Illinois has record day of COVID-19 cases

Reported COVID-19 cases in Metro-East Region 4 reached record levels Friday due in part to an earlier backlog of test results.

Earlier this week, a slowdown in data processing within Illinois Department of Public Health systems affected the reporting of results due to the large volume of testing in Illinois. All available resources were deployed to improve the data systems, which are now fixed, and the backlog created by the slowdown has been cleared.

As a result, Region 4 reported 298 cases, the highest number since the pandemic began — the previous high being 255 on Aug. 17. The region also reported five new deaths. The Illinois Department of Public Health defines Region 4 as St. Clair, Madison, Randolph, Clinton, Monroe, Bond and Washington counties. St. Clair County had the most cases with 126, representing a one-day high of new cases since the pandemic began. The county’s previous high of 108 came on Aug. 3.

“We received a memo from the Illinois Department of Public Health earlier this week that there was a problem with data reporting,” St. Clair County Health Department Emergency Response Coordinator Sam Bierman said during the county’s daily briefing Friday. “Today, we received another memo that they had cleared the issue ... that is the backlog that IDPH was talking about.”

Elsewhere in the metro-east, Madison County reported 73 new cases and four new deaths — a man in his 70s, a woman in her 80s, a woman in her 90s and a woman in her 100s. It is unknown if any of these individuals had underlying health conditions. Friday’s death total represented Madison County’s highest since health officials reported four deaths Aug. 13.

Additionally, Bond County reported 35 new cases Friday dating back to Sept. 1, as well as one new death.

Elsewhere in the metro-east Clinton County reported 26 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, Monroe County reported 25 new cases, Washington County reported seven new cases, and Randolph County reported six new cases — three of which were inmates at Menard Correctional Center in Chester, according to county health officials.

New restrictions for bars, restaurants, social gatherings and more went into effect at 11 p.m. Tuesday in the metro-east to reduce COVID-19 spread.

Outside of Region 4, nearby Jersey County reported 24 new cases Friday, while Macoupin County reported seven new cases. Macoupin County also announced its seventh death from COVID-19 on Thursday, the county’s third death in the past week, according to health officials. The individual who passed Thursday was a man in his 70s. It is unknown if he had any underlying health conditions.

The region’s positivity rate stayed at 9.3% Friday, the same as Thursday. The IDPH has provided the rate since June 26 at dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics. Information on the website is delayed by three days, so Monday, Aug. 31, is the latest date information was available for Friday.

As of Friday afternoon, 41% of the region’s hospital beds were available, up from 30% on Thursday. Also, as of Friday afternoon, 49% of the ICU beds were available, up from 47% on Thursday.

Regionally, there are 98 people in hospitals due to COVID-19, up from 88 on Thursday. Meanwhile, nine patients are on ventilators in the region, up from eight on Thursday.

St. Clair County’s latest rundown

St. Clair County has now recorded a total of 6,167 COVID-19 diagnoses and 175 deaths since the coronavirus pandemic began.

The daily positivity rate dropped from 8.1% on Wednesday to 6.5% on Friday. The daily positivity rate is the percentage of positives from a day’s worth of coronavirus tests. The county’s seven-day rolling positivity rate is 7.3%.

Officials announced on Friday that 52 people were receiving treatment for COVID-19 in St. Clair County hospitals, a jump of 11 from Thursday. Four of those individuals are on ventilators, officials said, up one from Thursday.

“The hospitalizations are really a telling number,” St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said during Friday’s daily briefing. “That’s why people really need to take care of themselves this Labor Day weekend. You don’t want to end up in the hospital. It wasn’t that long ago we had no patients on ventilators for quite a long time.”

The newly diagnosed St. Clair County residents ranged in age from children under 1 to people in their 80s. Of the 126 new cases, 66 were of people in their 40s or younger.

Four ZIP codes reported double digit increases, including 62269 — O’Fallon, +14 for a total of 487; 62220 — Belleville, Smithton: +13 for a total of 483; 62208 — Fairview Heights: +11 for a total of 374; and 62254 — Lebanon: +10 for a total of 212.

Every ZIP code in St. Clair County now has reported at least one case of COVID-19, according to county officials.

New cases were reported Friday at three congregate living homes in St. Clair County, including Apieron Care in Mascoutah (four new cases, two of which occurred in the spring but were just recently reported to county health officials); Caseyville Nursing and Rehab (three new cases); and Cedar Ridge Health and Rehab Center in Lebanon (one new case).

With Labor Day weekend here, Kern hopes the numbers don’t spike.

“If we all stay on the same page maybe we won’t see that same spike after Memorial Day and after the 4th of July,” he said.

Madison County by the numbers

Madison County has recorded 4,237 diagnoses and 105 deaths.

The county reported a daily positivity rate of 3.72% on Friday, down sharply from 8.88% on Thursday. The county’s three-day positivity rate decreased from 9.97% on Thursday to 8.16% on Friday and its seven-day moving average positivity rate fell from 11.01% on Thursday to 9.15% on Friday.

The latest residents to be diagnosed with COVID-19 ranged in age from under 10 to in their 70s. Of the 73 new cases, 49 individuals were in their 40s or younger.

Additionally, officials said 34 people were hospitalized Friday, up from 26 on Thursday. Also, officials reported five patients were on ventilators as of Friday, up from four on Thursday.

Six ZIP codes reported double digit increases, including 62025 — Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana: +24 for a total of 552; 62002 — Alton, East Alton, Godfrey: +20 for a total of 633; 62035 — Godfrey: +15 for a total of 272; 62040 — Granite City, Pontoon Beach: +15 for a total of 648; 62040 — Granite City, Pontoon Beach: +15 for a total of 648; and 62234 — Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place: +11 for a total of 474.

Illinois reports new cases, deaths

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 5,368 new cases of the virus Friday and 29 additional virus-related deaths.

As noted above, earlier this week, a slowdown in data processing within IDPH systems affected the reporting of results due to the large volume of testing occurring in Illinois. All available resources were deployed to improve the data systems, which are now fixed, and the backlog created by the slowdown has been cleared.

Two system upgrades were put in place and the systems now have significantly faster processing capacity. Although the slowdown did delay the reporting of some additional aggregate numbers, it did not affect the reporting of positive or negative results to individuals in any way.

Overall, a total of 245,371 Illinois residents have now been diagnosed with COVID-19, and 8,143 people have died from the virus. More than 4.3 million tests have been conducted for COVID-19, with 149,273 of those tests being reported within the last 24 hours.

As of Friday afternoon, 1,621 people in Illinois were hospitalized with COVID-19. Of those patients, 360 were in the ICU, the same total as Thursdsay — and 155 were on ventilators — up from 144 on Wednesday.

The statewide positivity rate for Aug. 28-Sept. 3 is 4.1%, down from 4.4% reported Thursday.

29 Illinois counties at warning level for coronavirus disease

Also on Friday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 29 counties are considered to be at a warning level for novel coronavirus disease. A county enters a warning level when two or more COVID-19 risk indicators that measure the amount of COVID-19 increase.

The counties include Boone, Bureau, Clinton, Coles, Cumberland, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Greene, Henry, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Lake, Lawrence, Madison, McLean, Monroe, Pulaski, Randolph, Rock Island, Shelby, Stark, St. Clair, Union, Wabash, Warren, Williamson and Will.

Although the reasons for counties reaching a warning level vary, some of the common factors for an increase in cases and outbreaks are associated with college parties, weddings, large gatherings, bars and clubs, long-term care facilities and other congregate settings, travel to neighboring states, and spread among members of the same household who are not isolating at home. Cases connected to schools are beginning to be reported. General transmission of the virus in the community is also increasing.

Public health officials are observing people not social distancing, gathering in large groups, and not using face coverings. In some counties, local law enforcement and states’ attorneys are not enforcing important mitigation measures like social distancing and the wearing of face coverings.

Additionally, some people refuse to participate in contact tracing and are not providing information on close contacts or answering the phone. Individuals are also waiting to get tested, believing their symptoms are allergies or some other cause.

Several counties are taking swift action and implementing mitigation measures to help slow spread of the virus, including increasing testing opportunities, working with schools, meeting with local leaders, and educating businesses and large venues about the importance of mitigation measures.

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: 126 new positives, 1,927 new tests administered, 54 new recoveries, 11 new hospitalizations, one additional person on a ventilator

Total overall: 6,167 positives, 175 deaths, 67,440 tests administered, 5,328 recoveries, 52 hospitalizations, four people on ventilators

ZIP codes with positives:

• 62059 (Brooklyn): 11
• 62201 (East St. Louis): 224 (+2)
• 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 185
• 62204 (East St. Louis): 128
• 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 188 (+5)
• 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 414 (+5)
• 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 231 (+1)
• 62208 (Fairview Heights): 374 (+11)
• 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 483 (+13)
• 62221 (Belleville): 578 (+9)
• 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 350 (+10)
• 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 27 (+4)
• 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 641 (+8)
• 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 167 (+8)
• 62239 (Dupo): 85 (+2)
• 62240 (Dupo): 31 (+2)
• 62243 (Freeburg): 87 (+2)
• 62254 (Lebanon): 212 (+10)
• 62255 (Lenzburg): 16
• 62257 (Marissa): 32
• 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 156 (+8)
• 62260 (Millstadt): 113 (+7)
• 62264 (New Athens): 85
• 62269 (O’Fallon): 487 (+14)
• 62282 (St. Libory): 8
• 62285 (Smithton): 70 (+1)
• 62289 (Summerfield): 6 (+6)

MADISON COUNTY

Friday’s new data: 73 new positives, four new deaths, 1,965 new tests administered, 43 new recoveries

Total overall: 4,237 positives, 105 deaths, 60,521 tests administered, 1,921 recoveries

ZIP codes with positives:

• 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 20 (+1)
• 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 633 (+20)
• 62010 (Bethalto): 191 (+9)
• 62012 (Godfrey): 15
  
  
• 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 47 (+2)
  
  
• 62021 (Dorsey): 10
• 62024 (East Alton): 91 (+2)
• 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 552 (+24)
• 62034 (Glen Carbon): 225 (+7)
• 62035 (Godfrey): 272 (+15)
• 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 648 (+15)
• 62046 (Hamel): 8 (+1)
• 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 9
• 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 100 (+1)
• 62061 (Marine): 24
• 62062 (Maryville): 90 (+2)
• 62067 (Moro): 40
• 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 16
• 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 23 (+2)
• 62090 (Madison, Venice): 30
• 62095 (Wood River): 137 (+2)
• 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 39
• 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 474 (+11)
• 62249 (Highland): 252 (+5)

• 62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley, Jamestown): 18

• 62281 (St. Jacob): 43

• 62293: (Saint Morgan, Trenton): 7

• 62294 (Troy): 196 (+6)

RANDOLPH COUNTY

Friday’s new data: Six new positives, 138 new tests administered, 18 new recoveries

Total overall: 799 positives, eight deaths, 9,273 tests administered, 674 recoveries, one hospitalization

ZIP codes with positives:

• 62217 (Baldwin): 13
• 62233 (Chester): 292 (+5)
• 62237 (Coulterville): 48
• 62241 (Ellis Grove): 14
• 62242 (Evansville): 17
• 62272 (Willisville, Percy): 62
• 62278 (Red Bud): 106 (+1)
• 62286 (Sparta): 122
• 62288 (Steeleville): 96
• 62292 (Tilden): 6
• 62297 (Walsh): 6
• 62916 (Campbell Hill): 11

CLINTON COUNTY

Friday’s new data: 26 new positives, 28 new recoveries

Total overall: 822 positives, 17 deaths, 583 recoveries, six hospitalizations

ZIP codes with positives:

• 62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 33 (+2)
• 62216 (Aviston): 71 (+9)
• 62218 (Bartelso): 47 (+6)
• 62230 (Breese): 127 (+9)
• 62231 (Carlyle): 176 (+5)
• 62245 (Germantown): 39 (+1)
• 62265 (New Baden): 111 (+2)
• 62293 (Trenton): 98 (+4)
• 62801 (Centralia): 203 (+15)

MONROE COUNTY

Friday’s new data: 25 new positives

Total overall: 502 positives, 13 deaths

ZIP codes with positives:

• 62236 (Columbia): 213 (+16)
• 62295 (Valmeyer): 22 (+1)
• 62298 (Waterloo): 236 (+21)

MACOUPIN COUNTY

Friday’s new data: Seven new positives, six new recoveries, one fewer hospitalization

Total overall: 423 positives, seven deaths, 118 recoveries, three hospitalizations

ZIP codes with positives:

• 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 12
  
  
• 62012 (Brighton): 72 (+3)
• 62014 (Bunker Hill): 38

• 62033 (Gillespie): 73 (+2)

• 62063 (Medora, Summerville, Kemper, Rockbridge): 8 (+1)

• 62069 (Mount Olive): 27

• 62088 (Staunton): 81 (+9)
• 62626 (Carlinville): 43
• 62640 (Girard): 10
• 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 11
• 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman): 12
  
  
• 62690 (Virden): 20 (+1)

PERRY COUNTY

Friday’s new data: No new data

Total overall: 304 positives, 11 deaths, 242 recoveries

ZIP codes with positives:

• 62238 (Cutler): 14
• 62274 (Pinckneyville): 145
• 62832 (Du Quoin): 87
• 62888 (Tamaroa): 20

JERSEY COUNTY

Friday’s new data: 24 new positives

Total overall: 315 positives, six deaths, 161 recoveries

ZIP codes with positives:

• 62022 (Newbern): 16 (+2)
• 62031 (Fieldon): 9
• 62037 (Grafton): 31 (+4)
• 62052 (Jerseyville): 192 (+27)

BOND COUNTY

Friday’s new data: 35 new positives since Sept. 1, one new death, 597 new tests administered, one new hospitalization

Total overall: 191 positives, four deaths, 9,387 tests administered, two hospitalizations

ZIP codes with positives:

• 62246 (Greenville): 127 (+50)
• 62262 (Mulberry Grove): 12 (+2)
• 62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley): 51 (+6)

WASHINGTON COUNTY

Friday’s new data: Seven new positives, five new recoveries

Total overall: 128 positives, one death, 116 recoveries, six hospitalizations

ZIP codes with positives:

• 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 11
• 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 44 (+2)
• 62268 (Oakdale): 7
• 62271 (Okawville): 19 (+2)
• 62808 (Ashley): 14 (+3)
• 62848 (Irvington): 12

CALHOUN COUNTY

Friday’s new data: No new data

Total overall: 35 positives, 26 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 Friday afternoon:

• Illinois: 245,371 cases, 8.143 deaths
  
  
• U.S.: 6,359,613 cases, 191,481 deaths, 3,584,207 recoveries
  
  
• World: 26,656,072 cases, 876,168 deaths, 18,782,858 recoveries

Testing sites in southwestern Illinois

The following test sites will be open to the public:

• Saturday, Sept. 5: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Belleville East High School, 2555 West Blvd.
• 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

• Tuesday, Sept. 8: 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. at the Hollywood Heights Fire Department, 1218 Hollywood Heights Road

No appointment is necessary. Masks are required.

The IDPH also offers free walk-up and drive-thru COVID-19 testing seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (or until they meet their capacity per day testing) at the Jackie Joyner Kersee Center in East St. Louis, Highway 64 West, exit 4A.

Capacity is limited. Hours of operation are subject to change on a daily basis based on available equipment. For more information, visit http://dph.illinois.gov/testing.

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 September 5, 2020 at 9:00 AM.