COVID-19 positivity rate for St. Clair County remains under 6.5% for 7th-straight day
St. Clair County’s daily COVID-19 positivity rate remained below 6% on Wednesday, while the county reported just 36 new cases and no new deaths.
The county’s positivity rate was 5.9%, up slightly from 5.7% on Tuesday. Wednesday marked the 25th day the county’s positivity rate was below 8%, according to county officials, and the seventh consecutive day it was under 6.5%. The daily positivity rate is the percentage of positives from a day’s worth of coronavirus tests.
The county’s seven-day rolling positivity rate was 5.3% on Wednesday, according to county officials.
“Every day this month we’ve been below 8%, and the past seven days we’ve been below 6.5% ... that’s that magic number that the state set where changes can happen,” St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said during the daily briefing Wednesday.
“The problem is that those changes can only happen if the whole region is below 6.5%. People in St. Clair County are washing their hands, keeping their distance and, most importantly, wearing those masks.”
Regional positivity rate is under 8% for fourth consecutive day
As for Region 4, the state reported the rolling seven-day average positivity rate remained the same Wednesday, halting at 7.3%. Wednesday marked the fourth day in a row the region’s rate has been below 8% and is the lowest the positivity rate has been since Aug. 7.
Illinois provides the rate for each region at dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics. Information on the website is delayed by three days, so Sunday, Sept. 20, was the latest data available Wednesday.
The state defines the metro-east, or Region 4, as St. Clair, Madison, Clinton, Randolph, Monroe, Bond and Washington counties. If the region reaches the state’s 6.5% positivity rate threshold, some restrictions may be lifted, according to the state’s Rebuild Illinois plan.
Meanwhile, the state’s seven-day positivity rate from Sept. 16-22 remained at 3.5%.
Overall, 111 new cases of COVID-19 and five new deaths were reported in the region Wednesday. Madison County reported 42 new cases and three new deaths — a man in his 50s, a man in his 70s, and a woman in her 80s. It is unknown if any of them had underlying health conditions. The county now has reported 126 COVID-19 related deaths. As noted above, St. Clair County reported 36 new cases.
Elsewhere in Region 4 on Wednesday, Monroe County reported 15 new cases, while Bond County reported four new cases and two new deaths, bringing the county’s death total to six since the pandemic began. No additional information was immediately available about the two individuals who passed away. Clinton County reported six new cases, while Randolph County and Washington County each reported four new cases.
According to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health, regionally, 36% of the metro-east’s hospital beds were available Wednesday, up from 33% on Tuesday. Additionally, 58% of the ICU beds were available, up from 47% on Tuesday, also according to the IDPH.
Regionally, as of Wednesday, 84 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19, with seven of those patients on ventilators.
Outside of Region 4, nearby Jersey County reported five new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and one new death, bringing the county’s death total to 14 since the pandemic began. No additional information was immediately available about the person who passed away.
Calhoun County, meanwhile, reported seven new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, Macoupin County reported five new cases, and Perry County reported four new cases.
St. Clair County’s latest rundown
St. Clair County has now reported a total of 7,110 positive cases and 187 deaths.
St. Clair County reported 52 hospitalizations Wednesday, up from 44 on Tuesday. There were four patients on ventilators as of Wednesday, down from five Tuesday.
At congregate living centers in St. Clair County, two new cases were reported at the Esquiline/Dammert Center at the Shrine on Wednesday and one new case was reported at Mercy Rehab and Care Center in Swansea.
The county’s new cases included young people under 10 to individuals in their 90s. Of the 36 new cases reported by the county, 27 of the individuals were in their 40s or younger.
No county ZIP codes reported a double digit increase Wednesday.
St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Director Herb Simmons praised St. Clair County’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts while noting a regional effort is required to have restrictions lifted.
“We’ve got to get that 7.3% regional positivity rate down. I go to bed thinking about that number and wake up thinking about it,” he said. “We can’t let our guard down. We’ve got to get that regional number down and it’s got to be done regionally. It’s a regional problem. The COVID is not just here in St. Clair County. It’s everywhere. So unless these other counties take it seriously like we are, I don’t know when we’re going to get below that number.”
Kern echoed Simmons’ regional stance.
“We’re just going to have to continue to try to lower St. Clair County’s numbers to try to pull the rest of the region below 6.5%,” he said.
Madison County by the Numbers
Madison County has reported a total of 5,464 cases and 126 deaths as of Wednesday.
The county’s daily positivity rate rose slightly from 8.35% on Tuesday to 8.40% on Wednesday. The county’s seven-day positivity rate decreased from 8.26% on Tuesday to 7.82% on Wednesday.
As of Wednesday, 22 COVID-19 patients were in Madison County hospitals, up from 21 on Tuesday. Two of those patients were on ventilators, two less than Tuesday’s total.
Individuals diagnosed with the virus Wednesday ranged in age from under 10 to their 90s, and of the 42 new cases, 30 were people in their 40s or younger.
No ZIP codes in Madison County reported double digit increases Wednesday.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 1,848 new positive cases and 22 additional deaths.
A total of 279,114 Illinois residents have tested positive for COVID-19, and 8,508 people have died. More than 5.2 million tests for COVID-19 have been conducted, 46,391 of which were tested in the last 24 hours.
Illinois ranks third in the country for the number of daily tests over the last week, behind California and New York, according to a press release from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office. California has more than three times the population of Illinois, and New York has more than one-and-a-half times the number of people.
As of Tuesday evening, when the latest data was available, 1,563 people in Illinois were hospitalized with COVID-19. According to IDPH, 351 of those patients were in the ICU and 144 were on ventilators.
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: 36 new positives, 612 new tests administered, 66 new recoveries, eight additional hospitalizations, one fewer patient on a ventilator.
Total overall: 7,110 positives, 187 deaths, 82,841 tests administered, 6,465 recoveries, 52 hospitalizations with four patients on ventilators.
Positivity rate of of Sept. 19: Daily, 6.4%; 7-day rolling average, 6.23%
ZIP codes with positives:
62059 (Brooklyn): 14 (+2)
62201 (East St. Louis): 236 (+1)
62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 202 (+1)
62204 (East St. Louis): 142 (+1)
62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 202 (+3)
62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 432 (+1)
62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 246 (+3)
62208 (Fairview Heights): 429 (+2)
62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 568 (+4)
62221 (Belleville): 667 (+3)
62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 419 (+8)
62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 31
62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 728 (+5)
62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 194
62239 (Dupo): 101 (+2)
62240 (Dupo): 33
62243 (Freeburg): 108 (+1)
62254 (Lebanon): 258
62255 (Lenzburg): 16
62257 (Marissa): 35
62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 189
62260 (Millstadt): 144
62264 (New Athens): 98 (+1)
62269 (O’Fallon): 555 (+4)
62282 (St. Libory): 12
62285 (Smithton): 110 (+3)
62289 (Summerfield): 6
MADISON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 42 new positives, three new deaths, 559 new tests administered, 19 new recoveries, one additional hospitalization, two fewer people on ventilators
Total overall: 5,464 positives, 126 deaths, 72,376 tests administered, 2,938 recoveries, 22 hospitalizations with two patients on ventilators
Positivity rate of of Sept. 19: Daily, 8.8%; 7-day rolling average, 7.3%
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 25
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 840 (+2)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 248
- 62012 (Godfrey): 15
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 62 (+1)
- 62021 (Dorsey): 14
- 62024 (East Alton): 139
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 679 (+5)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 277 (+5)
- 62035 (Godfrey): 425 (+2)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 808 (+9)
- 62046 (Hamel): 13 (+1)
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 16
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 119
- 62061 (Marine): 32
- 62062 (Maryville): 111 (+1)
- 62067 (Moro): 57
62074 (New Douglas): 9
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 29
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 27
- 62088 (Staunton, Livingston, Williamson): 6
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 31
- 62095 (Wood River): 182 (+6)
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 49
- 62201: (East St. Louis, Sauget, Fairmont City, Madison, National City): 6
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 568 (+4)
- 62249 (Highland): 323 (+4)
62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley, Jamestown): 20
62281 (St. Jacob): 53
62293: (St. Morgan): 8
- 62294 (Troy): 242
CLINTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Six new positives, one new hospitalization
Total overall: 1,101 positives, 20 deaths, 834 recoveries, eight hospitalizations
Positivity rate of of Sept. 19: Daily, 12.0%; 7-day rolling average, 13.8%
ZIP codes with positives:
62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 51
62216 (Aviston): 111
62218 (Bartelso): 71
62230 (Breese): 198 (+6)
62231 (Carlyle): 220 (+2)
62245 (Germantown): 54
62265 (New Baden): 121 (+1)
62293 (Trenton): 110
62801 (Centralia): 311
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Four new positives, 73 new tests administered, 13 new recoveries, one new hospitalization
Total overall: 938 positives, 11 deaths, 11,967 tests administered, 876 recoveries
Positivity rate of of Sept. 19: Daily, 0.8%; 7-day rolling average, 4.71%
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 17
- 62233 (Chester): 351 (+2)
- 62237 (Coulterville): 63
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 23
- 62242 (Evansville): 24
- 62272 (Percy): 64
- 62277 (Prairie Du Rocher): 10
- 62278 (Red Bud): 146 (+1)
- 62286 (Sparta): 156
- 62288 (Steeleville): 100
- 62292 (Tilden): 6
- 62297 (Walsh): 6
- 62916 (Campbell Hill): 15 (+1)
MONROE COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 15 new positives
Total overall: 642 positives, 14 deaths
Positivity rate of of Sept. 19: Daily, 7.7%; 7-day rolling average, 5.64%
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 253 (+5)
- 62244 (Fults): 7
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 29
- 62298 (Waterloo): 321 (+8)
BOND COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Four new positives, two new deaths
Total overall: 299 positives, six deaths, 14,075 tests administered, three hospitalizations
Positivity rate of of Sept. 19: Daily, 7.7%; 7-day rolling average, 9.93%
ZIP codes with positives:
62086 (Sorento): 12
62246 (Greenville): 193 (+6)
62262 (Mulberry Grove): 21
62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley): 76
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Four new positives, one new recovery
Total overall: 195 positives, one death, 170 recoveries
Positivity rate of of Sept. 19: Daily, 16.7%; 7-day rolling average, 11.33%
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 15
- 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 83 (+3)
- 62268 (Oakdale): 11
- 62271 (Okawville): 29 (+2)
- 62808 (Ashley): 17
- 62848 (Irvington): 17
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Five new positives, eight new recoveries
Total overall: 541 positives, nine deaths, 228 recoveries, four hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 11
- 62012 (Brighton): 117
- 62014 (Bunker Hill): 41
62033 (Gillespie): 90
62063 (Medora, Summerville, Kemper, Rockbridge): 8
62069 (Mount Olive): 32
- 62088 (Staunton): 100
- 62626 (Carlinville): 65
- 62640 (Girard): 15
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 15
- 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman): 15
- 62690 (Virden): 30
JERSEY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Five new positives, one new death, 34 new recoveries
Total overall: 380 positives, 14 deaths, 310 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 21
- 62028 (Elsah): 8
- 62031 (Fieldon): 10
- 62037 (Grafton): 33 (+3)
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 249 (+2)
PERRY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Four new positives, 15 new recoveries
Total overall: 344 positives, 16 deaths, 294 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 15
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 160
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 107 (+2)
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 27 (+2)
- 62997 (Willisville): 8
CALHOUN COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: Seven new positives
Total overall: 54 positives, 35 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62036 (Golden Eagle): 7
- 62047 (Hardin): 13 (+4)
PUB CENTER COLLEAGUES: optional cuts for print from here down
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: 279,114 cases, 8,508 deaths
U.S.: 7,015,225 cases, 205,826 deaths, 4,360,074 recoveries
World: 31,878,406 cases, 977,155 deaths, 23,475,686 recoveries
Testing sites in southwestern Illinois
The St. Clair County Health Department has announced free COVID-19 testing in the following locations:
- Thursday, Sept. 24, and Friday, Sept. 25: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Moody Park, 525 S. Ruby Lane, Fairview Heights. Testing will be done by a nasal swab. Testing for adults and children over 6 months of age.
Thursday, Sept. 24, through Sunday, Sept. 27: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Cahokia Fitness Center, 509 Camp Jackson Road.
No appointment is necessary. Masks are required. Results may take up to a week to receive. Do not call for results. The St. Clair County Health Department will call when the results are available.
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.
OPTIONAL CUT TO END
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.
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This story was originally published September 23, 2020 at 5:26 PM.