COVID-19 positivity rate for Region 4 in southwest Illinois rises a 6th straight day
The Metro-East Region 4 positivity rate again rose slightly Wednesday to 9.9%, up from 9.8% on Tuesday. The rate now has increased for six consecutive days.
The positivity rate is the percentage of coronavirus tests that were positive. The rate the state calculates is based on a week’s worth of tests.
It is a metric state officials use to decide whether to impose restrictions on businesses and activities in an effort to prevent the virus from spreading.
The state defines the metro-east, or Region 4, as St. Clair, Madison, Clinton, Randolph, Monroe, Bond and Washington counties.
Illinois provides the rate for each region at dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics. Information on the website is delayed by three days, so Sunday, Sept. 6, was the latest data available Wednesday.
While the region’s positivity rate rose slightly, the statewide COVID-19 test rate hit its lowest point since July 26 on Wednesday. The rolling seven-day average positivity rate was driven downward to 3.7 percent after Wednesday saw a 2.8 percent one-day positivity rate. Meanwhile, St. Clair County saw its daily positivity rate drop as well.
Overall, on Wednesday, 187 new positive tests of COVID-19 and two new deaths were reported in Region 4. Madison County reported 90 new cases, marking its second-highest one-day total since the pandemic began. The county reported 119 cases Aug. 17. Madison also reported two new deaths — both females in their 90s; it is unknown if they had any underlying health conditions.
St Clair County reported 65 new cases, Clinton County reported 20 new cases and Monroe County reported eight new cases. Randolph County reported four new cases, all new offenders from Menard Correctional Center, according to county health officials. Washington and Bond counties did not report any new data Wednesday.
Regionally, as of Wednesday afternoon, 30% of the metro-east’s hospital beds were occupied and 41% of its ICU beds were occupied, according to the state. Those numbers remained the same from Tuesday. Also, for Region 4, 90 people were hospitalized from COVID-19 as of Wednesday afternoon, with nine of those patients on ventilators.
Outside of Region 4, nearby Macoupin County reported 15 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, while Jersey County reported nine new cases and three new deaths. No additional information was available on people who passed away.
St. Clair County’s latest rundown
St. Clair County has now recorded a total of 6,421 COVID-19 diagnoses and 178 deaths since the coronavirus pandemic began. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
The daily positivity rate dropped sharply from 9.3% on Tuesday to 8.2% on Wednesday. The daily positivity rate is the percentage of positives from a day’s worth of coronavirus tests.
The county’s seven-day positivity rate was 6.8% as of Wednesday, up slightly from 6.6% as of Tuesday.
“If the spread had been stopped back in January or February, this never would have gotten here,” St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said during the county’s daily briefing Wednesday. “We never would have had to deal with this. We’re doing what we can in St. Clair County to contain the virus and keep as many people as possible from getting it. If we take our foot off the gas, we might see those numbers go up. We’re making progress here.”
Officials said 46 people were receiving treatment for COVID-19 in St. Clair County hospitals, the same as Tuesday. Three of the patients were on ventilators, down from four Tuesday.
The newly diagnosed St. Clair County residents ranged in age from under 10 years old to their 90s. Overall, 39 of the 65 cases were of people in their 40s or younger.
New cases were reported at two long-term care facilities in St. Clair County, including Caritas Family Solutions in Belleville (three new cases) and Lebanon Care Center (five new cases). The county also made a correction to cases announced at The Colonnade Senior Living in O’Fallon. Health officials announced there are actually six cases at the facility, not seven, as previously reported.
No county ZIP codes saw a double digit increase Wednesday. The largest uptick was in the 62220 ZIP code (Belleville, Smithton) where seven new cases were reported, for a total of 495.
St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Director Herb Simmons discussed the number crunching during Wednesday’s briefing while also thanking people who are practicing COVID-19 protocols, including wearing masks, social distancing and washing their hands.
“We’re discussing every day with the state and IDPH about these numbers. These numbers here are the most accurate from the St. Clair County Health Department,” Simmons said. “I know it gets confusing sometimes. It’s really good to know team St. Clair is that concerned about what’s going on. For those of you who are part of the problem, I hope the virus doesn’t coming knocking on your door.”
Madison County by the numbers
Madison County has reported a total of 4,568 cases and 110 deaths.
The county’s daily positivity rate Wednesday was 15.99%, down from 18.20% on Tuesday. The county’s seven-day positivity rate grew from 7.95% on Tuesday to 8.42% on Wednesday.
As of Wednesday, there were 33 COVID-19 patients in Madison County hospitals, with six on ventilators. Those numbers remained static from Tuesday. Individuals diagnosed with the virus Wednesday ranged in age from younger than 9 years old to their 90s. Of the 90 new cases, 63 were individuals in their 40s or younger.
The county had three zip codes report double digit increases Wednesday, including 62035 (Godfrey) where 19 new cases were reported for a total of 319; 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey) where 16 new cases were reported for a total of 688; and 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana) where 13 new cases were reported for a total of 586.
Additionally, New Douglas (62074) was a new zip code added to the county list, reporting six cases.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 1,337 new cases of the virus and 30 additional virus-related deaths Wednesday.
A total of 253,690 Illinois residents have now tested positive for COVID-19, and 8,214 people have died. More than 4.5 million tests have been conducted for COVID-19 with 48,029 specimens tested within the last 24 hours.
The state’s preliminary seven-day statewide positive rate from Sept. 2-8 is 3.7%, down from 4% on Tuesday.
As of Tuesday evening, 1,580 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19. Of those individuals, 357 patients were in the ICU and 133 were on ventilators.
Additionally, in an unrelated appearance at Illinois State University, according to a story from Capitol News Illinois, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker also took questions on the spread of the virus at colleges and universities, ongoing contact tracing efforts and the potential distribution of a vaccine once it becomes available.
Pritzker said when it comes to a vaccine, the state will have to be ensured of its safety before it will distribute it, and he was skeptical that such a vaccine would be ready by November.
He also said the state is “well along the way” to putting a distribution plan together for a vaccine.
“We want to make sure that the people who are most vulnerable are reached first, people who are most at risk,” Pritzker said. “Because of the jobs that they have, our frontline workers, our nurses, our doctors, etc., we want to make sure that they are covered, and so on ... There’ll be a list by priority and of course by availability of that vaccine.”
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: 65 new positives, 795 new tests administered, 17 new recoveries, one less patient on a ventilator
Total overall: 6,421 positives, 178 deaths, 71,208 tests administered, 5,616 recoveries, 46 hospitalizations with three patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 11
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 226 (-1)
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 187 (+1)
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 130
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 190
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 422 (+2)
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 237 (+3)
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 388
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 495 (+7)
- 62221 (Belleville): 602 (+3)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 370 (+1)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 29 (+1)
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 664 (+2)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 176 (+2)
- 62239 (Dupo): 91 (+5)
- 62240 (Dupo): 31
- 62243 (Freeburg): 91 (+2)
- 62254 (Lebanon): 225 (+5)
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 16
- 62257 (Marissa): 35
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 165 (+3)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 118 (-1)
- 62264 (New Athens): 87
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 503 (+2)
- 62282 (St. Libory): 9
- 62285 (Smithton): 75 (+1)
- 62289 (Summerfield): 6
MADISON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 90 new positives, two new deaths, 563 new tests administered, 71 new recoveries
Total overall: 4,568 positives, 110 deaths, 63,386 tests administered, 2,032 recoveries, 33 hospitalizations with six patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 20 (-1)
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 688 (+16)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 209 (+4)
- 62012 (Godfrey): 15
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 52 (+3)
- 62021 (Dorsey): 12
- 62024 (East Alton): 105 (+3)
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 586 (+13)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 238 (+2)
- 62035 (Godfrey): 319 (+19)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 673 (+7)
- 62046 (Hamel): 9
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 9
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 106 (+4)
- 62061 (Marine): 28 (+2)
- 62062 (Maryville): 94 (+4)
- 62067 (Moro): 44
62074 (New Douglas): 6
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 16
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 25
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 30 (-1)
- 62095 (Wood River): 149
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 42 (+1)
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 500 (+4)
- 62249 (Highland): 283 (+6)
62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley, Jamestown): 18
62281 (St. Jacob): 48
62293: (St. Morgan): 8
- 62294 (Troy): 206 (+3)
CLINTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 20 new positives, 29 new recoveries, four new hospitalizations
Total overall: 899 positives, 19 deaths, 632 recoveries, 13 hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 41 (+2)
- 62216 (Aviston): 82 (+5)
- 62218 (Bartelso): 53 (+3)
- 62230 (Breese): 137 (+2)
- 62231 (Carlyle): 184 (+2)
- 62245 (Germantown): 45 (+1)
- 62265 (New Baden): 114 (+2)
- 62293 (Trenton): 103 (+3)
- 62801 (Centralia): 242 (+4)
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Four new positives, 119 new tests administered, 12 new recoveries,
Total overall: 819 positives, eight deaths, 10,045 tests administered, 732 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 14
- 62233 (Chester): 304 (+4)
- 62237 (Coulterville): 58
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 16
- 62242 (Evansville): 18
- 62272 (Percy): 62
- 62277 (Prairie Du Rocher): 8
- 62278 (Red Bud): 120
- 62286 (Sparta): 130
- 62288 (Steeleville): 96
- 62292 (Tilden): 6
- 62297 (Walsh): 6
- 62916 (Campbell Hill): 11
MONROE COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Eight new positives
Total overall: 549 positives, 14 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 233 (+10)
- 62244 (Fults): 7
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 24 (+1)
- 62298 (Waterloo): 266 (+12)
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 15 new positives, 14 new recoveries
Total overall: 450 positives, seven deaths, 136 recoveries, three hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 13 (+1)
- 62012 (Brighton): 72
- 62014 (Bunker Hill): 40
62033 (Gillespie): 78 (+4)
62063 (Medora, Summerville, Kemper, Rockbridge): 9
62069 (Mount Olive): 30 (+3)
- 62088 (Staunton): 85 (+3)
- 62626 (Carlinville): 48 (+5)
- 62640 (Girard): 12 (+1)
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 12 (+1)
- 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman): 13 (+1)
- 62690 (Virden): 20
JERSEY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Nine new positives, three new deaths
Total overall: 333 positives, nine deaths, 172 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 18 (+2)
- 62028 (Elsah): 6
- 62031 (Fieldon): 9
- 62037 (Grafton): 31
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 201 (+5)
PERRY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: One new positive, one new recovery
Total overall: 313 positives, 14 deaths, 275 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 15
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 150 (+1)
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 90
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 21
- 62997 (Willisville): 8
BOND COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 211 positives, four deaths, 10,366 tests administered, two hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62086 (Sorento): 8
- 62246 (Greenville): 141
- 62262 (Mulberry Grove): 13
- 62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley): 54
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 138 positives, one death, 116 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 12
- 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 51
- 62268 (Oakdale): 8
- 62271 (Okawville): 19
- 62808 (Ashley): 14
- 62848 (Irvington): 14
CALHOUN COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 35 positives, 26 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62036 (Golden Eagle): 6
- 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 Wednesday afternoon:
- Illinois: 253,690 cases, 8,214 deaths
- U.S.: 6,524,900 cases, 194,437 deaths, 3,806,352 recoveries
- World: 27,873,404 cases, 904,558 deaths, 19,937,878 recoveries
Testing sites in southwestern Illinois
The following test sites will be open to the public:
- Thursday, Sept. 10: 9 a.m. to noon at Fairmount Park, 9301 Collinsville Road in Collinsville
- Saturday, Sept. 12: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Monroe Memorial Church, 1901 Belle St. in Alton
- Sunday, Sept. 13: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, parking lot B next to the Morris University Center at the corner of Circle Drive and Residence Drive
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) 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 based on available equipment. For more information, visit http://dph.illinois.gov/testing.
Additionally, Touchette Regional Hospital and SIHF Healthcare offer daily testing in Belleville and Wood River by first calling 618-646-2596 for an appointment.
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:
- 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 9, 2020 at 5:17 PM.