COVID-19 positivity rate for Region 4 in southwestern Illinois continues to rise
On the same day the state of Illinois reported a daily record of COVID-19 cases, Metro-East Region 4 saw an increase in its rolling 7-day COVID-19 positivity rate for a seventh straight day Thursday.
Since the state eased restrictions Friday, the region has seen its positivity rate steadily increase from 5.8% on Friday to 6.2% on Saturday to 6.3% on Sunday to 6.5% on Monday to 6.6% on Tuesday to 6.8% on Wednesday and then to 6.9% on Thursday.
The state could impose tougher restrictions if the positivity rate is at or above 8% for three straight days. And while Region 4 is still below even 7%, St. Clair County Emergency Management Director Herb Simmons lamented yet another day of an increase.
“This whole week we’ve been talking about the importance of keeping these numbers down,” he said during the county’s daily briefing Thursday. “Each day, we’re seeing an increase, and that’s not good. We want those numbers down, and we’ve got to keep it down below that 8%.”
Simmons and St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern bluntly again pointed toward other Region 4 counties to keep their respective numbers in check.
“We’re not getting the help that we need from our surrounding counties in the region,” Simmons said. “It’s going to affect each and every one of us sooner or later if we get back up to that 8%. Those mitigations are going to be there and those people are going to be screaming like you wouldn’t believe. I’m looking at Team St. Clair to spread the word. We have to let everyone know the importance of this.”
Kern, referencing higher positivity rates in surrounding counties, added: “St. Clair at least with our numbers kept it at 6.9. But it’s going to be pretty difficult to keep these levels where we need them to be.”
On a somber note, St. Clair County reported its 208th COVID-19 related death Thursday, something that weighed heavily on Simmons.
“As I’ve said before, that’s another person who doesn’t have the choice of wearing a mask, or washing their hands, or watching their social distancing. They’re no longer with us ... 208 of our county residents” Simmons said. “Again, if that doesn’t sink in to you hard heads out there that think it’s the flu or think it’s just the common cold, I guess it’s going to take (the virus) knocking on your door to make you understand that. I hope it doesn’t, but I also would hope you would listen and do the simple things.
All the while, Simmons again stressed the importance of adhering to COVID-19 protocols — with specific focus on wearing a mask — out of respect for business owners.
“Wear a mask when you’re out. When you’re at home, take your mask off. When you’re in your car, take your mask off. But when you go into the businesses, respect our business owners. They’re trying their best to keep their doors open, but if that number gets back up there, that’s not going to happen,” he said.
Added Kern, “Wearing a mask is just something we’re going to have to do for a while.”
The state eased some restrictions on businesses and gatherings last week, including a ban on indoor service at bars and restaurants, after the area’s positivity rate fell below 6.5% for three consecutive days.
Restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus had been in place since Aug. 18 in the metro-east, also known as Region 4, after the region passed the 8% positivity rate threshold for three consecutive days. Region 4 includes St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, Bond, Washington, Clinton and Randolph counties.
The region’s daily positivity rate did decrease Thursday, falling from 7.4% on Oct. 11 to 7.1% on Oct. 12. The state’s positivity rate data is delayed by three days, so the rate as of Oct. 12 was the most recent data available Thursday.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths Thursday
This information is according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The information in parentheses is the difference from the previous day’s totals. Of note, the new case total from Thursday is the highest the state has recorded in a single day since the pandemic began.
New cases: 4,015 (+1,153)
New deaths: 53 (+4)
New tests: 67,086 (+14,417)
Total cases: 331,620
Total deaths: 9,127
Total tests: 6,531,009
Hospitalizations: 1,932 (-42)
People in ICU: 388 (-2)
People on ventilators: 147 (-6)
Statewide positivity rate from Oct. 9-15: 4.9% (+0.3%)
Thursday’s COVID-19 case breakdown for Region 4
The information in parentheses is the difference from the previous day’s totals.
New cases: 184 (+34)
New deaths: 3 (+1) (St. Clair County — a man in his 70s with underlying health conditions; Madison County — a man in his 60s and a man in his 70s; it is unknown if either individual had underlying health conditions.)
Daily positivity rate as of Oct. 12: 7.1% (-0.3%)
7-day rolling average as of Oct. 12: 6.9% (+0.1%)
Hospitalizations: 88 (no change from Wednesday)
Patients on ventilators: 6 (no change from Wednesday)
Hospital bed availability: 29% (+2.0%)
ICU bed availability: 48% (+4.0%)
New cases from nearby counties outside Region 4: 43 (+16)
New deaths from nearby counties outside Region 4: 0 (-1)
Southwestern Illinois COVID-19 statistics
ZIP code-level numbers for the entire state are provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health each afternoon at dph.illinois.gov/covid19/covid19-statistics.
The Madison County Health Department compiles its 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 the local health department provides for Madison County ZIP codes.
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
Thursday’s new data: 62 new positives, 1,027 new tests administered, 31 new recoveries, 1 new death, 4 new hospitalizations
Total overall: 8,249 positives, 208 deaths, 102,309 tests administered, 7,514 recoveries, 50 patients hospitalized with 3 of those patients on ventilators
Positivity rates as of Oct. 12: Daily — 6.5 (-0.1%); 7-day average — 5.5% (no change from Wednesday)
Additional data: The county’s new cases included people under the age of 1 to people in their 90s. Of the 62 new cases reported by the county, 41 of the individuals were in their 40s or younger
Congregate living facilities: One new death reported at Integrity Healthcare of Smithton and one new case reported at Freeburg Care Center
ZIP codes with positives:
62059 (Brooklyn): 18 (+1)
62201 (East St. Louis): 260 (+1)
62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 239 (+2)
62204 (East St. Louis): 166 (+1)
62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 223
62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 505
62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 262 (+1)
62208 (Fairview Heights): 481
62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 644 (+3)
62221 (Belleville): 762 (+3)
62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 509 (+4)
62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 33
62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 868 (+7)
62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 215 (+3)
62239 (Dupo): 132
62240 (Dupo): 39
62243 (Freeburg): 122 (+1)
62254 (Lebanon): 283 (+1)
62255 (Lenzburg): 21
62257 (Marissa): 39
62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 208
62260 (Millstadt): 163
62264 (New Athens): 108
62269 (O’Fallon): 664 (+16)
62282 (St. Libory): 15 (+1)
62285 (Smithton): 140 (+1)
62289 (Summerfield): 7
MADISON COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 56 new positives, 2 new deaths, 681 new tests administered, 2 new recoveries, 4 fewer patients hospitalized
Total overall: 6,618 positives, 151 deaths, 89,262 tests administered, 3,356 recoveries, 18 patients hospitalized with 3 of those patients on a ventilator
Positivity rates as of Oct. 12: Daily — 7.8% (-0.4%); 7-day average — 7.0% (+0.2%)
Additional data: People diagnosed with the virus ranged in age from 10 to their 90s, and, of the 56 new cases, 34 were people in their 40s or younger.
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 31 (-1)
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 954 (+8)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 281 (+1)
- 62012 (Godfrey): 17 (+2)
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 76
- 62021 (Dorsey): 17 (+1)
- 62024 (East Alton): 181 (+4)
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 854 (+6)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 327 (+1)
- 62035 (Godfrey): 525 (+4)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 989 (+8)
- 62046 (Hamel): 18 (+1)
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 25 (+1)
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 138
- 62061 (Marine): 40 (+1)
- 62062 (Maryville): 146
- 62067 (Moro): 64
62074 (New Douglas): 13
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 37
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 31
- 62088 (Staunton, Livingston, Williamson): 12 (+2)
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 35
- 62095 (Wood River): 229 (+3)
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 59
- 62201: (Fairmont City, Madison): 8
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 654 (+5)
- 62249 (Highland): 414 (+2)
- 62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley, Jamestown): 23
62281 (St. Jacob): 73 (+1)
62293: (St. Morgan): 11 (+2)
- 62294 (Troy): 292 (+3)
CLINTON COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 27 new positives, 2 new hospitalizations
Total overall: 1,487 positives, 23 deaths, 1,268 recoveries, 12 patients hospitalized
Positivity rates as of Oct. 12: Daily — 8.7% (+1.0%); 7-day average — 9.8% (+0.3%)
ZIP codes with positives:
62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 64
62216 (Aviston): 145 (+5)
62218 (Bartelso): 91 (+3)
62230 (Breese): 296 (+11)
62231 (Carlyle): 287 (+4)
62245 (Germantown): 73
62265 (New Baden): 160 (+1)
62293 (Trenton): 124
62801 (Centralia): 506 (+14)
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 17 new positives, 136 new tests administered, 15 new recoveries
Total overall: 1,097 positives, 14 deaths, 14,339 tests administered, 1,005 recoveries, 1 hospitalization
Positivity rates as of Oct. 12: Daily — 3.5% (-4.8%); 7-day average — 9.6% (-0.3%)
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 22 (+1)
- 62233 (Chester): 400 (+5)
- 62237 (Coulterville): 70 (+3)
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 28 (+1)
- 62242 (Evansville): 30 (+1)
- 62272 (Percy): 70 (+1)
- 62277 (Prairie Du Rocher): 21
- 62278 (Red Bud): 170 (+1)
- 62286 (Sparta): 184 (+2)
- 62288 (Steeleville): 120 (+1)
- 62292 (Tilden): 9 (+1)
- 62297 (Walsh): 6
- 62916 (Campbell Hill): 19
MONROE COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 11 new positives, 2 new hospitalizations
Total overall: 832 positives, 26 deaths, 9 hospitalizations, 669 recoveries
Positivity rates as of Oct. 12: Daily — 6.8% (-0.7%); 7-day average — 8.4% (-0.2%)
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 312 (+2)
- 62244 (Fults): 11 (+1)
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 34 (+2)
- 62298 (Waterloo): 435 (+4)
BOND COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 11 new positives, 522 new tests administered
Total overall: 421 positives, 10 deaths, 20,049 tests administered
Positivity rates as of Oct. 12: Daily — 15.6% (+8.7%); 7-day average — 8.6% (+0.9%)
ZIP codes with positives:
62086 (Sorento): 21 (+3)
62246 (Greenville): 257 (+5)
62262 (Mulberry Grove): 41 (+1)
62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley): 99 (+2)
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 265 positives, one death, 242 recoveries, 4 hospitalizations
Positivity rates as of Oct. 12: Daily — 7.0% (+1.3%); 7-day average — 9.8% (-2.3%)
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 21
- 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 122 (+1)
- 62268 (Oakdale): 15
- 62271 (Okawville): 35
- 62808 (Ashley): 22 (+1)
- 62848 (Irvington): 19
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 23 new positives, 16 new recoveries
Total overall: 744 positives, 13 deaths, 390 recoveries
Positivity rates as of Oct. 12: Daily — 8.5% (+4.8%); 7-day average — 6.1% (+0.2%)
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 21
- 62012 (Brighton): 134 (+2)
- 62014 (Bunker Hill): 57 (+6)
62033 (Gillespie): 120 (+3)
62063 (Medora, Summerville, Kemper, Rockbridge): 7
62069 (Mount Olive): 47
- 62088 (Staunton): 141 (+3)
- 62626 (Carlinville): 96 (+4)
- 62640 (Girard): 24 (+2)
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 16
- 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman): 19 (+1)
- 62690 (Virden): 33
JERSEY COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 13 new positives, 32 new tests administered
Total overall: 447 positives, 21 deaths, 363 recoveries, 7,247 tests
Positivity rates as of Oct. 12: Daily — 20.0% (+10.7%); 7-day average — 5.7% (+0.4)
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 24
- 62028 (Elsah): 9
- 62031 (Fieldon): 10
- 62037 (Grafton): 39 (+2)
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 285 (+2)
PERRY COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 7 new positives, 2 new recoveries
Total overall: 392 positives, 16 deaths, 352 recoveries
Positivity rates as of Oct. 12: Daily — 7.0% (+7.0%); 7-day average — 4.0% (+0.9%)
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 15
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 169
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 128 (+5)
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 33 (+1)
- 62997 (Willisville): 13 (-1)
CALHOUN COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 70 positives, 67 recoveries
Positivity rates as of Oct. 12: Daily — 0.0% (no change); 7-day average — 0.0% (no change)
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62036 (Golden Eagle): 10
- 62047 (Hardin): 19
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: 331,620 cases, 9,127 deaths, 6,531,009 tests
- U.S.: 8,156,124 cases, 221,895 deaths, 5,280,004 recoveries
- World: 38,832,219 cases, 1,098,143 deaths, 29,168,191 recoveries
Testing sites in southwestern Illinois
These are free COVID-19 testing options in the following locations.
- Friday, Oct. 16: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Clare of Assisi Church, 1411 Cross St., O’Fallon.
- Friday, Oct. 16; Saturday, Oct. 17; and Sunday, Oct. 18: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Monroe Count Annex, 901 Illinois Ave., Waterloo).
Wednesday, Oct. 21, and Thursday, Oct. 22: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, 200 S. Belt E. (drive-thru).
Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Belleville West High School, 4063 Frank Scott Parkway (drive-thru).
No appointment is necessary. Masks are required.
The Illinois Department of Public Health 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 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 October 15, 2020 at 5:13 PM.