Local official: “Sometimes I feel like we’re in a war’’ with Illinois health department
St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern lashed out at the Illinois Department of Public Health Tuesday during a COVID-19 daily briefing, after the department said it wouldn’t consider exempting the county from region-wide restrictions.
“The state, IDPH, we were told today they’re not going to entertain allowing St. Clair County to stand alone, as opposed to being in the region, so I think they’ve made the decision that we will be on restrictions now for a while longer,” Kern said.
Citing St. Clair County’s improving positivity rate and case numbers compared to the rest of the metro-east region, Kern said Monday he had asked state officials to consider easing restrictions on restaurants and bars in the county. State health officials dismissed the request.
The metro-east, also known as Region 4, is in the first tier of restrictions in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois plan. The restrictions limit indoor service at bars and restaurants as well as the size of social gatherings.
State officials say they would ease those restrictions if the seven-county region has three consecutive days with a seven-day rolling positivity rate average of 6.5% or less.
The region-wide rate released Tuesday was 7.2%. St. Clair County’s was 6.6% after 12 days in a row of being under 6.5%.
“It’s discouraging, “ Kern said. “It really goes with the fact that there are many who think the positivity rate might not be the best metric to look at.”
In an email Tuesday morning, IDPH Public Information Officer Melaney Arnold told the BND the department wasn’t considering St. Clair County’s request to be exempt from the restriction. “This appears to be a rumor and is not being considered,” she stated.
County Emergency Management Agency Director Herb Simmons said the county’s official requests to be exempt were not rumors.
“Why IDPH would say it is a rumor I have no idea. We have the documentation,” Simmons said.
Kern said it has been frustrating for the county, as the Illinois Department of Public Health has on occasion posted incorrect information about St. Clair County on its website. He said that on Tuesday, for example, the department mistakenly posted that St. Clair County restaurants were permitted to have indoor dining.
“They don’t even have a handle on their own website. Now they expect us to take what they say and hold a great import to it when they can’t make their own website look right,” Kern said. “It’s really discouraging.
“We’ve been sending emails; we’ve had conversations with them about the accuracy of their numbers and now about the region and the issue we’re having with us having a positivity rate that warrants reopening, when the rest of the region isn’t complying.”
Kern said there is no denying that COVID-19 is still an issue in St. Clair County and the region, but he feels the restrictions put in place are sending St. Clair County residents elsewhere where they may be at risk. He said that could raise the positivity rate.
“They’re forcing our patrons to go to places that are completely wide open, where masks aren’t required, where social distancing isn’t required, and when our positivity rates go up, a part of that is from people are being forced to go to places where people aren’t complying with the governor’s restrictions like we and our businesses are.”
Simmons said on occasion, it feels as if the county is at odds with the Illinois Department of Public Health.
“We have to have IDPH on our side,” Simmons said. “Sometimes I feel like we’re in a war with them and it shouldn’t be that way.”
As for Region 4, the state reported the rolling seven-day average positivity rate rose from 7.1% on Monday to 7.2% on Tuesday, marking the ninth day in a row the region’s rate has been below 8% and the second day in a row the regional rate has risen.
The daily positivity rate for Region 4 dropped from 8.9% on Monday to 7.7% on Tuesday. Illinois provides the rate for each region at dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics. Information on the website is delayed by three days, so Saturday, Sept. 26, was the latest data available Tuesday.
Tuesday’s COVID-19 case breakdown for Region 4
Overall, 156 new cases of COVID-19 and three new deaths were reported in the region Tuesday.
St. Clair County reported 69 new cases and one new death — a man in his 70s with unknown health conditions. That brings the county’s death total to 191 since the pandemic began.
In Madison County, officials reported 58 new cases and one new death, a man in his 80s. No additional information was released on the man.
Elsewhere in Region 4, Clinton County reported 12 new cases and one new death, Monroe County reported 12 new cases and Bond County reported five new cases.
As of 6 p.m., Randolph and Washington counties had not reported daily COVID-19 data.
According to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health, regionally, 33% of the metro-east’s hospital beds were available Tuesday, while 38% of the ICU beds were available.
Regionally, as of Tuesday, 87 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19, with 10 of those patients on ventilators.
Outside of Region 4 on Tuesday, nearby Perry County reported three new cases of COVID-19.
St. Clair County’s latest rundown
St. Clair County has now reported a total of 7,490 positive cases and 191 deaths.
St. Clair County reported 46 hospitalizations — down from Monday’s total of 49. Five patients were on ventilators as of Tuesday, down from six Monday.
The county’s daily positivity rate rose from 8.4% on Monday to 10.06% on Tuesday. The county’s seven-day rolling average Tuesday was at 6.6%, breaking a 12-day record of the county being under 6.5%.
At congregate living centers in St. Clair County, Swansea Rehab & Care Center had one new case and Four Fountains had one new case.
The county’s new cases included young people under 10 to people in their 70s. Of the 64 new cases reported by the county, 33 of the individuals were in their 40s or younger. One county ZIP code reported a double digit increase Tuesday— 62285, Smithton: +10 for a total of 128.
Madison County by the numbers
Madison County has reported a total of 5,835 cases and 141 deaths as of Tuesday.
Eighteen COVID-19 patients were in Madison County hospitals, up from 16 on Monday. Two of those patients were on ventilators, down from three Monday.
The county’s daily positivity rate rose from 8.14% on Monday to 13.49% on Tuesday. The seven-day rolling positivity rate average rose from 7.36% on Monday to 7.77% on Tuesday.
People diagnosed with the virus Monday ranged in age from under 10 to their 80s, and of the 58 new cases, 40 were people in their 40s or younger.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 1,362 new COVID-19 cases and 23 additional deaths Tuesday.
A total of 291,001 state residents have tested positive, and 8,637 people have died since the pandemic began. More than 5.5 million coronavirus tests have been administered, including 45,624 since Monday.
As of Monday evening, when the latest data was available, 1,535 people in Illinois were hospitalized with COVID-19. According to IDPH, 363 of those patients were in intensive care units, including 151 on ventilators.
The statewide seven-day rolling positivity rate average from Sept. 22-28 was 3.6%, down slightly from 3.7% the day prior.
Southwestern Illinois COVID-19 statistics
ZIP code-level numbers 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 IDPH website.
The Belleville News-Democrat reports the information county health departments provide.
ZIP codes with fewer than five cases of the coronavirus 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
Tuesday’s new data: 64 new positives, one new death, 604 new tests administered, one less person on a ventilator
Total overall: 7,490 positives, 191 deaths, 88,182 tests administered, 6,776 recoveries, 46 patients hospitalized, including five on ventilators
Positivity rate as of Sept. 26: Daily, 8.1%; seven-day rolling average, 6.3%
ZIP codes with positives:
62059 (Brooklyn): 16
62201 (East St. Louis): 249 (+4)
62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 217 (+3)
62204 (East St. Louis): 145 (+2)
62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 214 (+2)
62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 456 (+6)
62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 255 (+1)
62208 (Fairview Heights): 447 (+6)
62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 587 (+7)
62221 (Belleville): 703 (+6)
62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 444 (+4)
62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 31
62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 771 (+7)
62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 196
62239 (Dupo): 123 (+4)
62240 (Dupo): 35
62243 (Freeburg): 112 (+3)
62254 (Lebanon): 274 (+1)
62255 (Lenzburg): 16
62257 (Marissa): 35
62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 192
62260 (Millstadt): 150 (+3)
62264 (New Athens): 107
62269 (O’Fallon): 575 (+1)
62282 (St. Libory): 13
62285 (Smithton): 128 (+10)
62289 (Summerfield): 6
MADISON COUNTY
Tuesday’s data: 58 new cases, one new death, 430 new tests administered
Total overall: 5,835 positives, 141 deaths, 77,135 tests administered, 3,038 recoveries
Positivity rates as of Sept. 26: Daily, 7.6%; seven-day rolling average, 7.4%
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 27
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 867 (+2)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 254
- 62012 (Godfrey): 15
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 69 (+2)
- 62021 (Dorsey): 14
- 62024 (East Alton): 145
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 763 (+14)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 302 (+3)
- 62035 (Godfrey): 455 (+5)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 861 (+11)
- 62046 (Hamel): 17
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 17
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 127
- 62061 (Marine): 35
- 62062 (Maryville): 122 (+2)
- 62067 (Moro): 57
62074 (New Douglas): 12
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 30
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 27
- 62088 (Staunton, Livingston, Williamson): 8
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 32 (+1)
- 62095 (Wood River): 198 (+5)
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 51
- 62201: (East St. Louis, Sauget, Fairmont City, Madison, National City): 6
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 597 (+5)
- 62249 (Highland): 349 (+3)
62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley, Jamestown): 22
62281 (St. Jacob): 58
62293: (St. Morgan): 8
- 62294 (Troy): 259 (+3)
CLINTON COUNTY
Tuesday’s new data: 12 new positives, 39 new recoveries, one new death
Total overall: 1,215 positives, 21 deaths, 1,039 recoveries, seven hospitalizations
Positivity rate as of Sept. 26: Daily, 10.6%; seven-day rolling average, 12.7%
ZIP codes with positives:
62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 54
62216 (Aviston): 120
62218 (Bartelso): 81
62230 (Breese): 223
62231 (Carlyle): 241
62245 (Germantown): 56
62265 (New Baden): 130
62293 (Trenton): 114
62801 (Centralia): 341
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Tuesday’s data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
Total overall: 957 positives, 12 deaths, 12,609 tests administered, 902 recoveries
Positivity rate as of Sept. 25: Daily, 2.4%; seven-day rolling average, 2%
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 17
- 62233 (Chester): 355
- 62237 (Coulterville): 63
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 24
- 62242 (Evansville): 23
- 62272 (Percy): 64
- 62277 (Prairie Du Rocher): 11
- 62278 (Red Bud): 148
- 62286 (Sparta): 161
- 62288 (Steeleville): 101
- 62292 (Tilden): 6
- 62297 (Walsh): 6
- 62916 (Campbell Hill): 15
MONROE COUNTY
Tuesday’s new data: 12 new positives
Total overall: 692 positives, 16 deaths
Positivity rate as of Sept. 26: Daily, 6.5%; seven-day rolling average, 8.4%
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 269
- 62244 (Fults): 7
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 29
- 62298 (Waterloo): 347
BOND COUNTY
Tuesday’s new data: five new positives
Total overall: 334 positives, seven deaths, 15,996 tests administered, one hospitalization
Positivity rate as of Sept. 25: Daily, 8.0%; seven-day rolling average, 8.9%
ZIP codes with positives:
62086 (Sorento): 13
62246 (Greenville): 218
62262 (Mulberry Grove): 26
62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley): 78
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Tuesday’s data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
Total overall: 216 positives, one death, 193 recoveries
Positivity rate as of Sept. 26: Daily, 16.7%; seven-day rolling average, 10.1%
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 15
- 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 94
- 62268 (Oakdale): 12
- 62271 (Okawville): 30
- 62808 (Ashley): 18
- 62848 (Irvington): 17
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Tuesday’s data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
Total overall: 584 positives, nine deaths, 269 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 14
- 62012 (Brighton): 120
- 62014 (Bunker Hill): 42
62033 (Gillespie): 105
62063 (Medora, Summerville, Kemper, Rockbridge): 8
62069 (Mount Olive): 34
- 62088 (Staunton): 108
- 62626 (Carlinville): 67
- 62640 (Girard): 16
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 16
- 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman): 15
- 62690 (Virden): 31
JERSEY COUNTY
Tuesday’s data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
Total overall: 396 positives, 15 deaths, 354 recoveries, 6,304 tests administered
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 22
- 62028 (Elsah): 8
- 62031 (Fieldon): 10
- 62037 (Grafton): 33
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 256
PERRY COUNTY
Tuesday’s data: Three new positives.
Total overall: 359 positives, 16 deaths, 312 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 15
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 165
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 108
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 31
- 62997 (Willisville): 8
CALHOUN COUNTY
Tuesday’s data: No new data as of 6 p.m.
Total overall: 63 positives, 39 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62036 (Golden Eagle): 8
- 62047 (Hardin): 18
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 Tuesday afternoon:
Illinois: 291,001 cases, 8,637 deaths, 5,566,276 tests
U.S.: 7,328,926 cases, 209,526 deaths, 4,572,940 recoveries
World: 33,484,120 cases, 1,004,082 deaths, 23,212,633 recoveries
Testing sites in southwestern Illinois
These are free COVID-19 testing options in the following locations this week:
Wednesday, Sept. 30; and Friday, Oct. 2: 8 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth’s Urgicare, 1512 N. Greenmount Road in O’Fallon (need appointment)
Wednesday, Sept. 30: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Southwestern Illinois College, 2500 Carlyle Ave. in Belleville.
Thursday, Oct. 1: 9 a.m. to noon at America’s Central Port, 1635 W. First St. in Granite City.
Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Korte Stadium, 3345 Stadium Road at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
No appointment is necessary unless indicated. Masks are required unless indicated. It may take up to a week to receive results. Do not call for results. The St. Clair County Health Department will call when 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 capacity limits are met each day) at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center, Argonne Drive in East St. Louis (Interstate 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 Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation offer daily testing in Belleville and Wood River. Call 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 29, 2020 at 5:45 PM.