Southwestern Illinois sees another drop in positive coronavirus test rates
For the second straight day, the metro-east’s positivity rate for COVID-19 testing has dropped, officials said Saturday.
Prior to these totals, the region’s positivity rate had increased for seven consecutive days.
The rate listed on Saturday was 9.8%, which was compiled from statistics through Wednesday. The rate was 10% on Friday.
Since the region has remained above 8%, additional restrictions have been put into place by the state, including a ban on indoor service at bars and restaurants.
On Friday, St. Clair County officials asked 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.
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 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 Wednesday, Sept. 9 was the latest data available on Friday.
Statewide, the rolling seven-day average positivity rate dropped to 3.7% Saturday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. This was down from Friday’s rate of 3.9%.
Overall, 172 new positive tests of COVID-19 and one new death were reported in Region 4 on Saturday as of 6 p.m. in the four counties that released statistics on Saturday.
St. Clair County had 49 new cases and one death, Madison had 109 cases, Randolph had seven and Monroe also had seven. Meanwhile, Clinton, Bond and Washington counties did not release results as of 6 p.m. Saturday.
Three other counties in the area, Macoupin, Jersey and Perry did not release results on Saturday.
However, Jersey County officials announced late Friday that three persons had died in connection with the virus. Details about these victims were not released.
Regionally, as of Saturday, 30% of the metro-east’s hospital beds were available — down from 31% Friday — and 38% of its ICU beds were available — down from 39% on Friday — according to the state.
Also, for Region 4, 95 people were hospitalized from COVID-19 as of Saturday, up from 85 on Friday. Nine of those patients were on ventilators on Saturday, the same as Friday’s total.
St. Clair County’s latest rundown
St. Clair County has now recorded a total of 6,632 COVID-19 diagnoses and 180 deaths since the coronavirus pandemic began. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
One virus-related death was reported Saturday. The woman was in her 70s and she had underlying health conditions.
The county’s daily positivity dropped to 4.8% on Saturday, down from 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 7.6% Saturday, up slightly from the 7.2% recorded on Friday.
Officials said 54 people were receiving treatment for COVID-19 in St. Clair County hospitals on Saturday, up from 47 people on Friday. Two of the patients were on ventilators, down from four on Friday.
The newly diagnosed St. Clair County residents ranged in age from the teens to their 80s.
Overall, 31 of the 49 cases announced on Saturday were of people in their 40s or younger.
One death was reported at Integrity Healthcare in Smithton and a positive case was reported at Integrity Healthcare in Belleville, according to the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency.
The county did not say whether the person who died at Integrity was the same person listed as the county’s lone fatality Saturday.
Madison County by the numbers
Madison County has reported a total of 4,832 cases and 114 deaths as of Saturday.
The county’s daily positivity rate Saturday was 12.4%, which was up from Friday’s rate of 10.96%. The county’s seven-day positivity rate was 12.77% on Saturday, up from 12.08% on Friday.
As of Saturday, 25 COVID-19 patients were in Madison County hospitals, which was the same number of patients on Friday. Five of those patients were on ventilators.
Individuals diagnosed with the virus on Saturday ranged in age from younger than 9 to their 80s.
Of the 109 new cases, 62 were individuals in their 40s or younger and 47 were in their 50s or older.
Madison County had five ZIP codes report double-digit increases Saturday — 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey) reported 18 new cases for a total of 743; 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana) reported 11 new cases for a total of 617; 62035 (Godfrey reported 24 new cases for a total of 359; 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach) reported 10 new cases for a total of 705; and 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place) reported 14 new cases for a total of 515.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 2,121 new cases of the virus and 22 additional virus-related deaths on Saturday.
A total of 259,909 Illinois residents have now tested positive for COVID-19, and 8,295 people have died. More than 4.68 million tests have been conducted for COVID-19 with nearly 56,594 specimens tested within the last 24 hours.
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
Saturday’s new data: One death, 49 new positives, 1,015 new tests administered, 57 new recoveries, seven new hospitalizations
Total overall: 6,632 positives, 180 deaths, 74,199 tests administered, 5,813 recoveries, 54 hospitalizations with two patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 11
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 231 (+4)
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 195 (+4)
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 136 (+1)
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 191 (-1)
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 425 (+3)
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 238
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 400 (+1)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 521 (+5)
- 62221 (Belleville): 622 (+8)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 380 (+2)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 30 (+1)
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 686 (+2)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 184 (+1)
- 62239 (Dupo): 97 (+3)
- 62240 (Dupo): 31
- 62243 (Freeburg): 94
- 62254 (Lebanon): 235 (+3)
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 16
- 62257 (Marissa): 35
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 176 (+1)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 128 (+2)
- 62264 (New Athens): 90
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 519 (+2)
- 62282 (St. Libory): 12
- 62285 (Smithton): 79 (+1)
- 62289 (Summerfield): 6
MADISON COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: 109 new positives, 879 new tests administered
Total overall: 4,832 positives, 114 deaths, 65,422 tests administered, 2,278 recoveries, 25 hospitalizations with five patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 21
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 743 (+18)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 220 (+2)
- 62012 (Godfrey): 15
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 53 (+1)
- 62021 (Dorsey): 13
- 62024 (East Alton): 118 (+3)
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 617 (+11)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 252 (+6)
- 62035 (Godfrey): 359 (+24)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 705 (+10)
- 62046 (Hamel): 10 (+1)
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford):10 (+1)
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 115 (+5)
- 62061 (Marine): 30 (+1)
- 62062 (Maryville): 97 (+1)
- 62067 (Moro): 50 (+2)
62074 (New Douglas): 6
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 17 (+1)
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 27 (-1)
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 30 (-1)
- 62095 (Wood River): 154 (+2)
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 44 (+2)
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 515 (+14)
- 62249 (Highland): 293 (+7)
62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley, Jamestown): 18
62281 (St. Jacob): 50 (-2)
62293: (St. Morgan): 8
- 62294 (Troy): 211 (+4)
CLINTON COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: No data released as of 6 p.m.
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
Saturday’s new data: seven new positives
Total overall: 854 positives, eight deaths, 10,472 tests administered, 772 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 15
- 62233 (Chester): 311
- 62237 (Coulterville): 60
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 17
- 62242 (Evansville): 22
- 62272 (Percy): 63
- 62277 (Prairie Du Rocher): 9
- 62278 (Red Bud): 127
- 62286 (Sparta): 142
- 62288 (Steeleville): 97
- 62292 (Tilden): 6
- 62297 (Walsh): 6
- 62916 (Campbell Hill): 11
MONROE COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: seven new positives
Total overall: 575 positives, 14 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 235
- 62244 (Fults): 7
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 26
- 62298 (Waterloo): 280
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
Total overall as of Friday: 467 positives, seven deaths, 143 recoveries, five hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 13
- 62012 (Brighton): 76 (+3)
- 62014 (Bunker Hill): 42 (+2)
62033 (Gillespie): 78
62063 (Medora, Summerville, Kemper, Rockbridge): 9
62069 (Mount Olive): 30
- 62088 (Staunton): 89 (+4)
- 62626 (Carlinville): 49
- 62640 (Girard): 12
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 12
- 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman): 13
- 62690 (Virden): 24 (+3)
JERSEY COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
Total overall of Friday night: 353 positives; 12 deaths, which was an increase of three people; and 229 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 18
- 62028 (Elsah): 8 (+2)
- 62031 (Fieldon): 9
- 62037 (Grafton): 31
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 226 (+25)
PERRY COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
Total overall as of Thursday: 314 positives, 14 deaths, 276 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 15
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 155 (+5)
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 95 (+5)
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 22 (+1)
- 62997 (Willisville): 8
BOND COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
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
Saturday’s new data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
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
Saturday’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 Saturday afternoon:
- Illinois: 259,909 cases, 8,295 deaths
- U.S.: 6,478,223 cases, 193,525 deaths, 2,434,658 recoveries
- World: 28,606,726 cases, 917,417 deaths, 19,288,985 recoveries
Testing sites in southwestern Illinois
The St. Clair County Health Department has announced free COVID-19 testing in the following locations:
▪ 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 in Smithton in Smithton Park.
▪ 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16 at McKendree University in Lebanon. Drive-thru: Take College Road to Alton Street – First right in front of the Hett. Walk-up: on the Quad across from the Hett on Alton Street.
▪ 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 and Sunday, Sept. 20 at Gateway Classic Cars at 1237 Central park Drive in O’Fallon.
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.
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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.
