St. Clair County officials want you to get a COVID-19 test, even if you have no symptoms
St. Clair County officials are asking people to get tested for COVID-19, even if they don’t have symptoms. in an effort to lower the region’s positivity rate and avoid further restrictions.
During a daily briefing on COVID-19 Friday, St. Clair County Health Department Emergency Response Coordinator Sam Bierman said it’s important that both those who have symptoms and those who do not get tested due to the way the state calculates the region and county’s positivity rate.
She said when a small number of tests are performed and most are symptomatic and have COVID-19, the positivity rate will be higher.
“With the metrics that they’re (the state) using, we have to see both populations,” she said. “We have to see those that are ill and that are positive and those that are either not symptomatic and positive or not symptomatic and negative.”
“To get the metrics that the state is looking for to keep us open and to keep us moving forward in these phases, we need numbers for both,” Bierman said. “That’s why we’re asking people who are not symptomatic to get tested.”
The positivity rate is the percentage of coronavirus tests that are positive. The rate the state calculates is based on a week’s worth of tests. The Metro-East Region 4 positivity rate went down slightly Friday after seven straight days of increases, dropping from 10.1% Thursday to 10%.
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 Tuesday, Sept. 8 was the latest data available Friday.
Statewide, the rolling seven-day average positivity rate rose slightly to 3.9% on Friday from 3.8% on Thursday.
Overall, 222 new positive tests of COVID-19 and three new deaths were reported in Region 4 on Friday as of 6 p.m. St. Clair County reported 67 new cases, down from 95 on Thursday. The county has now reported a total of 6,583 cases.
In Madison County 81 new cases and two new deaths were reported. The individuals who died were a man in his 80s and a woman in his 70s. No additional details were available.
Elsewhere in Region 4, Bond County reported 23 new cases of COVID-19, Randolph County reported 27, Washington reported 11 and Monroe reported 13.
Regionally, as of Friday afternoon, 31% of the metro-east’s hospital beds were available — the same as Thursday — and 39% of its ICU beds were available — down from 41% on Thursday — according to the state.
Also, for Region 4, 85 people were hospitalized from COVID-19 as of Friday, up from 80 on Thursday. Nine of those patients were on ventilators, one more than Thursday’s total.
St. Clair County’s latest rundown
St. Clair County has now recorded a total of 6,583 COVID-19 diagnoses and 179 deaths since the coronavirus pandemic began. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
The county’s daily positivity dropped from 9.3% on Thursday to 7% Friday. 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 7.2% as of Friday, up from 7.1% on Thursday.
Officials said 47 people were receiving treatment for COVID-19 in St. Clair County hospitals, up from 44 people Thursday. Four of the patients were on ventilators, one more than Thursday.
The newly diagnosed St. Clair County residents ranged in age from under 10 years old to their 90s. Overall, 44 of the 67 cases announced Friday were of people in their 40s or younger.
One new case was reported at a long-term care facility in St. Clair County Friday. The individual who tested positive resides at the Esquiline/Dammert Center at the Shrine.
Two county ZIP codes saw double digit increases Friday. In 62226 (Belleville, Swansea), 16 new cases of COVID-19 were reported for a total of 684. In 62220 (Belleville, Smithton), 12 new cases were reported for a total of 516.
Madison County by the numbers
Madison County has reported a total of 4,723 cases and 114 deaths.
The county’s daily positivity rate Friday was 10.96%, down from 17.7% on Thursday. The county’s seven-day positivity rate grew from 9.11% on Thursday to 12.08% on Friday.
As of Friday, 25 COVID-19 patients were in Madison County hospitals, up from 22 on Thursday. Five of those patients were on ventilators, up from four on Thursday. Individuals diagnosed with the virus Friday ranged in age from younger than 9 years old to their 90s. Of the 81 new cases, 51 were individuals in their 40s or younger.
The county had four zip codes report a double digit increase Friday — 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey) reported 16 new cases for a total of 724; 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, reported 13 new cases for a total of 606; 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach) reported 13 for a total of 695; and 62035 reported 11 for a total of 335.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 2,145 new cases of the virus and 32 additional virus-related deaths Friday.
A total of 257,788 Illinois residents have now tested positive for COVID-19, and 8,273 people have died. More than 4.6 million tests have been conducted for COVID-19 with nearly 56,661 specimens tested within the last 24 hours.
The state’s preliminary seven-day statewide positive rate from Sept. 4-10 is 3.9%, up from 3.8% percent from Thursday.
As of Thursday evening, 1,619 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19, up from 1,609 on Wednesday evening. Of those individuals, 359 patients were in the ICU — up from 346 on Wednesday evening — and 155 people were on ventilators — up from 141 on Wednesday evening.
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: 67 new positives, 957 new tests administered, 85 new recoveries, two new hospitalizations
Total overall: 6,583 positives, 179 deaths, 73,184 tests administered, 5,756 recoveries, 47 hospitalizations with four patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 11
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 227
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 191 (+1)
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 135 (+2)
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 192 (+1)
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 422
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 238 (+1)
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 399 (+5)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 516 (+12)
- 62221 (Belleville): 614 (+7)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 378 (+3)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 29
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 684 (+16)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 183 (+3)
- 62239 (Dupo): 94 (+3)
- 62240 (Dupo): 31
- 62243 (Freeburg): 94 (+2)
- 62254 (Lebanon): 232 (+4)
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 16
- 62257 (Marissa): 35
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 175 (+6)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 126 (+2)
- 62264 (New Athens): 90
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 517 (+6)
- 62282 (St. Libory): 12
- 62285 (Smithton): 78 (+2)
- 62289 (Summerfield): 6
MADISON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 81 new positives, 739 new tests administered, two new deaths
Total overall: 4,723 positives, 114 deaths, 64,543 tests administered, 2,231 recoveries, 25 hospitalizations with five patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 21 (+1)
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 724 (+16)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 218 (+3)
- 62012 (Godfrey): 15
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 52
- 62021 (Dorsey): 13
- 62024 (East Alton): 115 (+2)
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 606 (+13)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 246 (+5)
- 62035 (Godfrey): 335 (+11)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 695 (+13)
- 62046 (Hamel): 9
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 9
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 110
- 62061 (Marine): 29
- 62062 (Maryville): 96 (+1)
- 62067 (Moro): 48 (+2)
62074 (New Douglas): 6
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 16
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 28 (+1)
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 31 (+1)
- 62095 (Wood River): 152 (+1)
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 42
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 501
- 62249 (Highland): 286 (+2)
62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley, Jamestown): 18
62281 (St. Jacob): 52
62293: (St. Morgan): 8
- 62294 (Troy): 207
CLINTON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 24 new cases.
Total overall: 938 positives, 19 deaths, 662 recoveries, seven hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 41
- 62216 (Aviston): 81
- 62218 (Bartelso): 54
- 62230 (Breese): 139
- 62231 (Carlyle): 186
- 62245 (Germantown): 46
- 62265 (New Baden): 116
- 62293 (Trenton): 106
- 62801 (Centralia): 248
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 27 new positives
Total overall: 847 positives, eight deaths, 10,380 tests administered, 755 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 14
- 62233 (Chester): 305
- 62237 (Coulterville): 58
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 16
- 62242 (Evansville): 18
- 62272 (Percy): 62
- 62277 (Prairie Du Rocher): 8
- 62278 (Red Bud): 121
- 62286 (Sparta): 130
- 62288 (Steeleville): 96
- 62292 (Tilden): 6
- 62297 (Walsh): 6
- 62916 (Campbell Hill): 11
MONROE COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 13 new positives
Total overall: 568 positives, 14 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 233
- 62244 (Fults): 7
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 24
- 62298 (Waterloo): 266
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
Total overall: 455 positives, seven deaths, 138 recoveries, three hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 13
- 62012 (Brighton): 73
- 62014 (Bunker Hill): 40
62033 (Gillespie): 78
62063 (Medora, Summerville, Kemper, Rockbridge): 9
62069 (Mount Olive): 30
- 62088 (Staunton): 85
- 62626 (Carlinville): 49
- 62640 (Girard): 12
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 12
- 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman): 13
- 62690 (Virden): 21
JERSEY COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
Total overall: 333 positives, nine deaths, 172 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 18
- 62028 (Elsah): 6
- 62031 (Fieldon): 9
- 62037 (Grafton): 31
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 201
PERRY COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
Total overall: 313 positives, 14 deaths, 275 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 15
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 150
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 90
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 21
- 62997 (Willisville): 8
BOND COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 23 new positives, 144 new test administered
Total overall: 234 positives, four deaths, 10,510 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
Friday’s new data: 11 new positives
Total overall: 149 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
Friday’s new data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
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 Friday afternoon:
- Illinois: 257,788 cases, 8,273 deaths
- U.S.: 6,556,121 cases, 195,523 deaths, 3,846,772 recoveries
- World: 28,105,587 cases, 909,488 deaths, 20,171,956 recoveries
Testing sites in southwestern Illinois
The following test sites will be open to the public:
- 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 11, 2020 at 5:29 PM.