Southwest IL COVID-19 positivity rate rises as mitigations kick in for Region 4
The metro-east’s COVID-19 positivity rate rose Wednesday, as the state imposed tightened restrictions on indoor dining, bars and social gatherings.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported the metro-east’s seven-day rolling average positivity rate rose from 8.3% on Tuesday to 8.5% on Wednesday.
“8.5 for the region is still going in the wrong way folks,” St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Director Herb Simmons said during Wednesday’s daily briefing. “It’s got to go down. We had two doctors in here today for a meeting, and their sentiment was the same thing: Wear your mask. That’s what they keep preaching. And that’s what we’re going to continue to preach because we showed it worked and we’ve just got to get it back down that way.
“We all benefit when we get the low numbers. Our businesses, us individually ... we can get back to some sense of normal life.”
The reintroduction of tightened restrictions comes as a result of the region reporting three consecutive days above 8%. The metro-east needs three consecutive days with a seven day average under 6.5% for mitigations to be relaxed.
The region had restrictions lifted Oct. 9 when the positivity rate fell below 6.5% for three days. The restrictions that went into affect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday are the same restrictions.
The positivity rate data reported by the state is delayed by three days, so the rate as of Oct. 25 was the most recent data available Wednesday. It was the sixth consecutive day the metro-east had a seven-day rolling average positivity rate above 8%.
Here’s what tier 1 restrictions include:
BARS:
- All bars close at 11 p.m.
- No indoor service
- All bar patrons should be seated at tables outside
No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)
Tables should be 6 feet apart
No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
No dancing or standing indoors
Reservations required for each party
No seating of multiple parties at one table
RESTAURANTS:
- All restaurants close at 11 p.m.
No indoor dining or bar service
Tables should be 6 feet apart
No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
Reservations required for each party
No seating of multiple parties at one table
MEETINGS, SOCIAL EVENTS AND GATHERINGS:
- Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity
- Reception halls are limited to lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity
No party buses
If the region continues to have a positivity rate above 8% for the next 14 days, further restrictions could be added to Region 4.
The state eased restrictions on restaurants, bars and social gatherings roughly two weeks ago on Oct. 9, after the metro-east saw its positivity rate fall below 6.5%. Since then the positivity rate has steadily increased nearly every day.
“Right now, we’re in that rut where the businesses have those mitigations that they’ve got to to deal with,” Simmons said. “We sympathize with them. We’re all in this together. We’re going to get this put behind us as the doctors told us today. It’s just going to take teamwork.”
Region 4 includes St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, Bond, Washington, Clinton and Randolph counties. Region 4 also saw a jump in its daily positivity rate from 8.1% on Tuesday to 10.3% on Wednesday, the highest daily rate since 13% on Sept. 7.
The region’s hospital bed capacity was at 28% on Tuesday, and its ICU capacity was at 40%. If the region’s hospital capacity threatens its surge capacities, meaning if the ICU capacity of hospital bed capacity falls under 20%, new restrictions could also be enacted by the state.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths Wednesday
This information is according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
New cases: 6,110 (+2,110)
New deaths: 51 (+5)
New tests: 70,752 (+8,678)
Total cases: 389,095
Total deaths: 9,619
Total tests: 7,459,042
Hospitalizations: 2,861 (+103)
People in ICU: 600 (+5)
People on ventilators: 243 (+2)
Statewide positivity rate (from Oct. 21-27): 6.7% (+0.3%)
Wednesday’s COVID-19 case breakdown for Region 4
New cases: 247 (+92)
New deaths: 1 (-6) (1 death in Clinton County)
Daily positivity rate (as of Oct. 25): 10.3% (+2.2%)
7-day rolling average (as of Oct. 25): 8.5% (+0.2%)
Hospitalizations: 109 (+5)
Patients on ventilators: 10 (+2)
Hospital bed availability: 28% (no change from Tuesday)
ICU bed availability: 40% (+3.0%)
New cases from nearby counties outside Region 4: 34 (+16)
New deaths from nearby counties outside Region 4: 0 (-1)
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 55 new positives, 549 new tests administered
Total overall: 9,078 positives, 221 deaths, 113,263 tests administered, 8,198 recoveries, 53 patients hospitalized with 5 on ventilators
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 25): Daily — 9.1% (+1.8%); seven-day average — 7.4% (+0.5%)
Additional data: Individuals diagnosed ranged in age from under 10 to their 80s. Of the 55 new cases, 22 were individuals under the age of 40.
Congregate living facilities: Bradford Place in Swansea reported 4 new cases.
MADISON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 102 new positives, 634 new tests administered, 30 new recoveries
Total overall: 7,441 positives, 156 deaths, 99,931 tests administered, 3,672 recoveries, 31 patients hospitalized with 5 on ventilators
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 25): Daily — 9.9% (+3.0%); 7-day average — 7.8% (+0.3%)
Additional data: Individuals diagnosed ranged in age 10 and under to their 90s. Of the 102 new cases, 38 were individuals were under the age of 40.
CLINTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 19 new positives, 1 new death, 17 new recoveries, 1 new hospitalization
Total overall: 1,820 positives, 29 deaths, 1,538 recoveries, 11 patients hospitalized
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 25): Daily — 15.1% (-3.2%); 7-day average — 14.5% (-0.9%)
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 30 new positives, 18 new recoveries, 1 fewer hospitalization
Total overall: 1,345 positives, 15 deaths, 1,175 recoveries, 15,992 tests administered, 3 hospitalizations
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 25): Daily — 8.5% (-1.0%); 7-day average — 10.9% (-0.2%)
MONROE COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 36 new positives, 1 new hospitalization
Total overall: 994 new positives, 28 deaths, 7 hospitalized
Positivity rates as (of Oct. 25): Daily — 10.3% (-4.0%); 7-day average — 8.4% (+0.6%)
BOND COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 5 new positives, 200 new tests administered
Total overall: 528 positives, 10 deaths, 22,773 tests administered, 3 hospitalizations
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 25): Daily — 16.7% (+13.4%); 7-day average — 7.7% (-0.4%)
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 322 positives, 2 death, 289 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 25): Daily — 23.3% (+11.9%); 7-day average — 14.6% (-0.1%)
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 12 new positives, 5 new recoveries
Total overall: 877 positives, 14 deaths, 459 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 25): Daily — 5.6% (-1.8%); 7-day average — 5.6% (-0.3%)
JERSEY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 477 positives, 21 deaths, 421 recoveries, 8,042 tests
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 25): Daily — 1.8% (-4.4%); 7-day average — 5.4% (-0.2%)
PERRY COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 15 new positives, 1 new recovery
Total overall: 464 positives, 16 deaths, 380 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 25): Daily — 15.5% (-1.2%); 7-day average — 11.6% (+1.6%)
CALHOUN COUNTY
Wednesday’s new data: 7 new positives, 4 new recoveries
Total overall: 87 positives, 80 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 25): Daily — 14.3% (+14.3%); 7-day average — 2.0% (+0.9%)
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: 389,095 cases, 9,619 deaths, 7,459,042 tests
- U.S.: 9,057,435 cases, 232,361 deaths, 5,890,432 recoveries
- World: 44,518,515 cases, 1,175,499 deaths, 32,576,117 recoveries
Testing sites in southwestern Illinois
Here are free COVID-19 testing options.
- Thursday, Oct. 29: 9 a.m to noon at Granite City High School, 3101 Madison, Ave. in Granite City.
- Sunday, Nov. 1: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Belleville East High School, 2555 West Blvd.
- Wednesday, Nov. 4: 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. at Millstadt City Park.
- Sunday, Nov. 8: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at McKendree University, 701 College Road, Lebanon.
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
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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 October 28, 2020 at 4:22 PM.