Metro-east COVID-19 positivity rate drops for seventh day. Labor Day spike possible
The positivity rate for COVID-19 testing in the Metro-East Region 4 dropped for the seventh consecutive day, officials said Thursday. But a spike from recent Labor Day celebrations could be on its way.
The state reported the region’s rolling seven-day average positivity rate fell to 8.4% on Thursday, down from 8.9% on Wednesday. Thursday’s rate is the lowest the positivity rate has been since Aug 16.
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.
St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said during a daily COVID-19 update that while state numbers have spiked this week, county and regional numbers have stayed relatively low. He said that could end if there is a spike in cases due to the Labor Day holiday.
Health Department Emergency Response Coordinator Sam Bierman said if the spike from the holiday weekend is going to happen, it will likely show in the amount of new cases in the coming days.
“From the most recent holiday we were going to see it around this time or in the next few days and that’s what we’re seeing in the state numbers,” Bierman said.
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.
Illinois provides the rate for each region at dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics. Information on the website is delayed by three days, so Sunday, Sept. 14, was the latest data available Thursday.
Meanwhile, the state’s seven-day positivity rate from Sept. 10-16 was 3.6%.
Overall on Thursday, 150 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths had been reported in the region as of 6:30 p.m. St. Clair County reported 46 new cases and Madison County reported 67.
Elsewhere in Region 4 on Thursday, Monroe County reported eight new cases of COVID-19, Clinton reported 24 and Randolph reported 5. As of 6:30 p.m., Bond and Washington counties had no reported daily COVID-19 data.
Regionally, 31% of the metro-east’s hospital beds and 40% of the region’s ICU beds were available as of Thursday afternoon, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
St. Clair County’s latest rundown
St. Clair County has now had a total of 6,852 COVID-19 diagnoses and 182 deaths since the coronavirus pandemic began.
The county’s daily positivity rate fell from 9.2% on Wednesday to 6.5% on Thursday. The daily positivity rate is the percentage of positives from a day’s worth of coronavirus tests.
The county’s seven-day positivity rate also fell slightly from 7% on Wednesday to 6.4% on Thursday.
County officials reported 42 coronavirus-related hospitalizations Thursday, up from 36 on Wednesday. Two of those patients were on ventilators, down from four on Wednesday.
Ages of people diagnosed with COVID-19 in St. Clair County Thursday ranged from under 10 to in their 90s. Of the 46 new cases, 29 were from people in their 40s or younger.
Congregate living centers in St. Clair County reported seven new cases Thursday: Caritas Family solutions reported one new case; Four Fountains in Belleville reported two; Integrity Healthcare of Belleville reported one, Nullwood Retirement Center reported one; St. Paul’s Home in Belleville reported one and Swansea Rehab and Care Center reported one.
There were no double-digit increases in any of St. Clair County’s ZIP codes Thursday.
Madison County by the numbers
Madison County has reported a total of 5,147 cases and 121 deaths as of Thursday.
The county’s daily positivity rate rose from 11.33% on Wednesday to 14.6% Thursday. The county’s seven-day positivity rate decreased from 12.55% on Wednesday to 12.25% Thursday.
As of Thursday, 14 COVID-19 patients were in Madison County hospitals, down from 17 on Wednesday. Five of those patients were on ventilators, one more than Wednesday’s total.
Individuals diagnosed with the virus Thursday ranged in age from younger than 9 to their 90s, and of the 67 new cases, 41 were people in their 40s or younger.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 2,056 new cases of the virus and 25 additional virus-related deaths Thursday.
A total of 268,207 Illinois residents have now tested positive for COVID-19, and 8,392 people have died. More than 4.9 million tests have been conducted for COVID-19; 57,800 people were tested in the past 24 hours.
As of Wednesday evening, 1,588 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19. Of those individuals, 359 patients were in the ICU — and 144 people were on ventilators. Wednesday 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
Thursday’s new data: 46 new positives, one new death, 706 new tests administered, 47 new recoveries, six additional hospitalizations, two fewer people on ventilators
Total overall: 6,852 positives, 182 deaths, 77,443 tests administered, 6,125 recoveries, 42 hospitalizations with two patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 11
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 232
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 197 (+1)
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 136
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 195 (+4)
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 425 (-1)
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 242 (+3)
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 415 (+2)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 536 (+2)
- 62221 (Belleville): 642 (+4)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 392 (+3)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 31 (+1)
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 707 (+5)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 190 (+2)
- 62239 (Dupo): 98 (+1)
- 62240 (Dupo): 32 (+1)
- 62243 (Freeburg): 103 (+5)
- 62254 (Lebanon): 249 (+4)
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 16
- 62257 (Marissa): 35
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 188 (+6)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 134 (+1)
- 62264 (New Athens): 92
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 536 (+7)
- 62282 (St. Libory): 12
- 62285 (Smithton): 92 (+9)
- 62289 (Summerfield): 6
MADISON COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 67 new positives, 459 new tests administered, no new deaths.
Total overall: 5,147 positives, 121 deaths, 67,926 tests administered, 2,709 recoveries, 14 hospitalizations with five patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 22
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 797 (+9)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 235 (+2)
- 62012 (Godfrey): 26 (+11)
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 56 (+2)
- 62021 (Dorsey): 13
- 62024 (East Alton): 130 (+1)
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 640 (+5)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 265 (+5)
- 62035 (Godfrey): 395 (+7)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 745 (+10)
- 62046 (Hamel): 12 (+2)
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 15 (+3)
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 118 (+1)
- 62061 (Marine): 32 (+1)
- 62062 (Maryville): 100 (+1)
- 62067 (Moro): 54 (+1)
62074 (New Douglas): 8
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 20
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 27
- 62088 (Staunton, Livingston, Williamson): 6
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 31
- 62095 (Wood River): 167 (+5)
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 47 (+3)
- 62201: (East St. Louis, Sauget, Fairmont City, Madison, National City): 6
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 536 (+5)
- 62249 (Highland): 308 (+2)
62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley, Jamestown): 19
62281 (St. Jacob): 52
62293: (St. Morgan): 8
- 62294 (Troy): 230 (+5)
CLINTON COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 24 new positives
Total overall: 1,014 positives, 20 deaths, 748 recoveries, eight hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 47
- 62216 (Aviston): 94
- 62218 (Bartelso): 60
- 62230 (Breese): 171
- 62231 (Carlyle): 197
- 62245 (Germantown): 45
- 62265 (New Baden): 116
- 62293 (Trenton): 108
- 62801 (Centralia): 276
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: five new positives
Total overall: 906 positives, 11 deaths, 11,180 tests administered, 816 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 16
- 62233 (Chester): 329
- 62237 (Coulterville): 62
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 18
- 62242 (Evansville): 22
- 62272 (Percy): 64
- 62277 (Prairie Du Rocher): 10
- 62278 (Red Bud): 139
- 62286 (Sparta): 150
- 62288 (Steeleville): 99
- 62292 (Tilden): 6
- 62297 (Walsh): 6
- 62916 (Campbell Hill): 13
MONROE COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: eight new positives
Total overall: 603 positives, 14 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 237 (+3)
- 62244 (Fults): 7
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 26
- 62298 (Waterloo): 287
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: No new data as of 6:30 p.m.
Total overall: 488 positives, eight deaths, 165 recoveries, four hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 14
- 62012 (Brighton): 76
- 62014 (Bunker Hill): 43
62033 (Gillespie): 80
62063 (Medora, Summerville, Kemper, Rockbridge): 9
62069 (Mount Olive): 30
- 62088 (Staunton): 90
- 62626 (Carlinville): 55
- 62640 (Girard): 12
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 13
- 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman): 13
- 62690 (Virden): 28 (+3)
JERSEY COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: No new data as of 6:30 p.m.
Total overall: 364 positives; 12 deaths, 276 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 18
- 62028 (Elsah): 8
- 62031 (Fieldon): 9
- 62037 (Grafton): 31
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 230 (+2)
PERRY COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: Two new positives
Total overall: 330 positives, 15 deaths, 293 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 15
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 158 (+3)
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 99
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 23
- 62997 (Willisville): 8
BOND COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: No new data as of 6:30 p.m.
Total overall: 268 positives, four deaths, 12,176 tests administered
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62086 (Sorento): 9 (+1)
- 62246 (Greenville): 173
- 62262 (Mulberry Grove): 18 (+5)
- 62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley): 69
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: No new data as of 6:30 p.m.
Total overall: 178 positives, one death, 149 recoveries, three hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 13 (+1)
- 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 66
- 62268 (Oakdale): 8
- 62271 (Okawville): 25 (+6)
- 62808 (Ashley): 16 (+2)
- 62848 (Irvington): 17 (+1)
CALHOUN COUNTY
Thursday’s New Data: No new data as of 6:30 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 Thursday afternoon:
- Illinois: 268,207 cases, 8,392 deaths
- U.S.: 6,789,877 cases, 200,280 deaths, 4,069,054 recoveries
- World: 29,812,446 cases, 940,781 deaths, 21,614,948 recoveries
Testing sites in southwestern Illinois
The St. Clair County Health Department has announced free COVID-19 testing in the following location:
- 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
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This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 5:23 PM.