Southwest IL positivity rate continues to drop as COVID restrictions deadline nears
The positivity rate for COVID-19 testing in the metro-east dropped for the fourth consecutive day, officials said Monday, as a state-set deadline for the region to lower the rate draws closer.
The state reported the region’s rolling seven-day average positivity rate fell to 9.4%, Monday, down from 9.6% on Sunday, creeping closer to the 8% threshold set by the state. If the region falls under an 8% positivity rate, it may avoid further restrictions from the state.
The state defines the metro-east, or Region 4, as St. Clair, Madison, Clinton, Randolph, Monroe, Bond and Washington counties.
Since the region has remained above 8%, additional restrictions have been in place, including a ban on indoor service at bars and restaurants. The restrictions went into effect Sept. 2, starting another 14-day monitoring period to determine if they can be relaxed or if more are needed.
The 14-day period will have passed on Wednesday.
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.
Illinois provides the rate for each region at dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics. Information on the website is delayed by three days, so Friday, Sept. 11, was the latest data available on Monday.
On Monday, 203 new cases of COVID-19 had been reported in the metro-east.
St. Clair County reported 52 new cases, Madison County reported 62, Randolph County reported 8, Clinton County reported 41, Washington County reported 15, Bond County reported 23 and Monroe reported two cases. Clinton County’s new cases ranged from Saturday, Sept. 12 to Monday, Sept. 14.
Randolph County also reported three new deaths.
Regionally, 31% of the metro-east’s hospital beds and 43% of the region’s ICU beds were occupied, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
A total of 79 people were hospitalized from COVID-19 as of Monday in Region 4, down from 95 on Sunday. Seven of those patients were on ventilators on Monday, up from Sunday’s total of five.
St. Clair County’s latest rundown
St. Clair County has now recorded a total of 6,652 COVID-19 diagnoses and 180 deaths since the coronavirus pandemic began.
The county’s daily positivity rose from 4.2% on Sunday to 8.5% Monday. 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 7.4% Monday, the same as Sunday’s rate.
County officials reported 36 coronavirus-related hospitalizations, down from the 49 patients reported on Sunday. Three of those patients were on ventilators as of Monday.
St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said the county’s hospitalization numbers dropped significantly in the past few days and said it was hopefully a good sign of things to come.
Individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in St. Clair County Monday ranged from people under 10 to in their 90s. Thirty-eight of the 52 new cases announced on Sunday were from people in their 40s or younger.
Two additional cases were reported at the Esquiline/Dammert Center. Those cases were the only new COVID-19 cases at congregate living facilities in the county Monday, officials said.
There were no double-digit increases in any of St. Clair County’s ZIP codes on Monday.
Madison County by the numbers
Madison County has reported a total of 4,965 cases and 114 deaths as of Monday.
The county’s daily positivity rate fell from 14.3% on Sunday to 10.05% Monday. The county’s seven-day positivity rate was 13.63% on Monday, down from 14.05% on Sunday.
As of Monday, 23 COVID-19 patients were in Madison County hospitals. Four of those patients were on ventilators.
Individuals diagnosed with the virus on Saturday ranged in age from younger than 9 to their 90s, and of the 62 new cases, 41 were people in their 40s or younger.
Madison County had one ZIP codes report double-digit increase Monday — 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey) reported 15 new cases for a total of 766.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 1,373 new cases of the virus and five additional virus-related deaths on Monday.
A total of 262,744 Illinois residents have now tested positive for COVID-19, and 8,314 people have died. More than 4.7 million tests have been conducted for COVID-19, 35,930 were tested in the past 24 hours.
As of Sunday evening, 1,431 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19. Of those individuals, 335 patients were in the ICU — and 131 people were on ventilators. Sunday was the latest day numbers on statewide hospitalizations were available.
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
Monday’s new data: 52 new positives, 614 new tests administered, no new deaths, 126 new recoveries
Total overall: 6,652 positives, 180 deaths, 75,287 tests administered, 5,987 recoveries, 36 hospitalizations with three patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 11
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 232 (+1)
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 196 (+1)
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 136
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 191
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 426 (+1)
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 238
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 407 (+6)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 529 (+4)
- 62221 (Belleville): 628 (+2)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 379 (-1)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 31 (+1)
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 690 (+2)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 185 (+1)
- 62239 (Dupo): 97
- 62240 (Dupo): 31
- 62243 (Freeburg): 96 (+2)
- 62254 (Lebanon): 235
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 16
- 62257 (Marissa): 35
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 180 (+3)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 129 (+1)
- 62264 (New Athens): 91 (+1)
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 522 (+2)
- 62282 (St. Libory): 12
- 62285 (Smithton): 80 (+1)
- 62289 (Summerfield): 6
MADISON COUNTY
Monday’s new data: 62 new positives, 617 new tests administered, no new deaths.
Total overall: 4,965 positives, 114 deaths, 66,535 tests administered, 2,466 recoveries, 23 hospitalizations with four patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 21
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 766 (+15)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 229
- 62012 (Godfrey): 15
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 54
- 62021 (Dorsey): 13
- 62024 (East Alton): 124
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 624
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 256
- 62035 (Godfrey): 380
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 722
- 62046 (Hamel): 10
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford):12
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 117
- 62061 (Marine): 30
- 62062 (Maryville): 99
- 62067 (Moro): 53
62074 (New Douglas): 7
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 20
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 27
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 31
- 62095 (Wood River): 157
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 44
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 523
- 62249 (Highland): 301
62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley, Jamestown): 18
62281 (St. Jacob): 50
62293: (St. Morgan): 8
- 62294 (Troy): 218
CLINTON COUNTY
Monday’s new data: 41 new positives, one new hospitalization, 23 new recoveries
Total overall: 979 positives, 19 deaths, 685 recoveries, eight 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
Monday’s new data: 14 new positives on Sunday and 8 new positives Monday, three new deaths
Total overall: 876 positives, 11 deaths, 10,877 tests administered, 786 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
Monday’s new data: Two new positives
Total overall: 585 positives, 14 deaths, two hospitalized
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 234
- 62244 (Fults): 7
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 26
- 62298 (Waterloo): 287
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Monday’s new data: Five new positives, seven new recoveries
Total overall: 470 positives, seven deaths, 150 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
Monday’s new data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
Total overall: 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
Monday’s new data: 11 new positives
Total overall: 325 positives, 14 deaths, 282 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
Monday’s new data: 23 new positives, one less hospitalization
Total overall: 257 positives, four deaths, 11,662 tests administered, one hospitalization
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62086 (Sorento): 8
- 62246 (Greenville): 141
- 62262 (Mulberry Grove): 13
- 62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley): 54
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Monday’s new data: 15 new positives
Total overall: 164 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
Monday’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 Monday afternoon:
- Illinois: 262,744 cases, 8,314 deaths
- U.S.: 6,545,898 cases, 194,066 deaths
- World: 29,114,477 cases, 925,596 deaths
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.
Madison Health Department announced free COVID-19 testing at the following locations:
- 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14 and Tuesday, Sept. 15 at Quad City/Mt. Nebo Complex in Madison
- 9 a.m. to noon. Tuesday, Sept. 15. Drive-thru testing at Korte Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
- 9 a.m. to noon. Thursday, Sept. 17. Drive-thru testing at Gilk Park in Highland
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
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This story was originally published September 14, 2020 at 5:02 PM.