Southwest IL COVID-19 positivity rate remains steady, still well above state threshold
The metro-east’s COVID-19 positivity rate remained the same Thursday, as the state’s tightened restrictions on indoor dining, bars and social gatherings continue.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported the seven-day rolling average positivity rate for the metro-east, known as Region 4, stayed at 8.5% on Thursday, the same as Wednesday.
“Unfortunately we’re part of the region — Region 4 — and we’re above 8 today. It still needs to get down below 6.5% if the state is going to release the mitigations,” St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said during Thursday’s daily briefing. “We all need to ban together and get to that point.“
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. 26 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.
Region 4 includes St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, Bond, Washington, Clinton and Randolph counties.
Region 4 saw a drop in its daily positivity rate from 10.3% on Wednesday to 9.7% on Thursday.
The region’s hospital bed capacity was at 28% on Thursday, and its ICU capacity was at 41%. If the region’s hospital capacity threatens its surge capacities, meaning if the ICU capacity of hospital beds falls under 20%, new restrictions could also be enacted by the state.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths Thursday
This information is according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
New cases: 6,363 (+253)
New deaths: 56 (+5)
New tests: 83,056 (+12,304)
Total cases: 395,458
Total deaths: 9,675
Total tests: 7,542,098
Hospitalizations: 3,030 (+169)
People in ICU: 643 (+43)
People on ventilators: 269 (+26)
Statewide positivity rate (from Oct. 22-28): 6.9% (+0.2%)
Thursday’s COVID-19 case breakdown for Region 4
New cases: 227 (-20)
New deaths: 5 (+4) (2 deaths in Madison County, 2 deaths in Clinton County, and 1 death in St. Clair County)
Daily positivity rate (as of Oct. 26): 9.7% (-0.6%)
7-day rolling average (as of Oct. 26): 8.5% (no change from Wednesday)
Hospitalizations: 106 (-3)
Patients on ventilators: 11 (+1)
Hospital bed availability: 28% (no change from Wednesday)
ICU bed availability: 41% (+1.0%)
New cases from nearby counties outside Region 4: 23 (+5)
New deaths from nearby counties outside Region 4: 0 (no change from Wednesday)
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 74 new positives, 1 new death, 1,242 new tests administered, 154 new recoveries, 3 fewer patients hospitalized, 1 additional patient on a ventilator
Total overall: 9,152 positives, 222 deaths, 114,505 tests administered, 8,352 recoveries, 50 patients hospitalized with 6 on ventilators
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 26): Daily — 7.4% (-1.7%); 7-day average — 7.2% (-0.2%)
Additional data: Individuals diagnosed ranged in age from under 1 to their 90s. Of the 74 new cases, 37 were individuals under the age of 40.
Congregate living facilities: Mercy Rehab and Care Center in Swansea reported 3 new cases.
MADISON COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 60 new positives, 2 new deaths, 1,145 new tests administered, 1 fewer patient hospitalized
Total overall: 7,501 positives, 158 deaths, 101,076 tests administered, 3,942 recoveries, 30 patients hospitalized with 5 on ventilators
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 26): Daily — 11.2% (+1.3%); 7-day average — 7.8% (no change from Wednesday)
Additional data: Individuals diagnosed ranged in age 10 and under to their 80s. Of the 60 new cases, 27 were individuals were under the age of 40.
CLINTON COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 30 new positives, 2 new deaths, 10 new recoveries, 3 new hospitalizations,
Total overall: 1,850 positives, 31 deaths, 1,548 recoveries, 14 patients hospitalized
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 26): Daily — 16.9% (-1.8%); 7-day average — 14.4% (-0.1%)
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 29 new positives, 15 new recoveries, 275 new tests administered
Total overall: 1,374 positives, 15 deaths, 1,190 recoveries, 16,267 tests administered, 3 hospitalizations
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 26): Daily — 13.8% (+5.3%); 7-day average — 11.2% (+0.3%)
MONROE COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 27 new positives, 1 new hospitalization
Total overall: 1,021 new positives, 28 deaths, 8 hospitalized
Positivity rates as (of Oct. 26): Daily — 20.4% (+10.1%); 7-day average — 9.5% (+1.1%)
BOND COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 7 new positives, 154 new tests administered, 1 fewer hospitalization
Total overall: 535 positives, 10 deaths, 22,927 tests administered, 2 hospitalizations
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 26): Daily — 4.0% (-12.7%); 7-day average — 6.3% (-1.4%)
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 322 positives, 2 death, 289 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 26): Daily — 14.3% (-9.0%); 7-day average — 14.8% (+0.2%)
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 19 new positives, 16 new recoveries
Total overall: 896 positives, 14 deaths, 475 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 26): Daily — 11.5% (+5.9%); 7-day average — 5.9% (+0.3%)
JERSEY COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 477 positives, 21 deaths, 490 recoveries, 8,357 tests
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 26): Daily — 4.3% (+2.5%); 7-day average — 4.9% (-0.5%)
PERRY COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: No new data
Total overall: 464 positives, 16 deaths, 380 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 26): Daily — 11.4% (-4.1%); 7-day average — 12.3% (+0.7%)
CALHOUN COUNTY
Thursday’s new data: 4 new positives
Total overall: 100 positives, 80 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 26): Daily — 33.3% (+19.0%); 7-day average — 6.3% (+4.3%)
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: 395,458 cases, 9,675 deaths, 7,542,098 tests
- U.S.: 9,145,665 cases, 233,437 deaths, 5,941,873 recoveries
- World: 45,039,277 cases, 1,182,573 deaths, 32,849,501 recoveries
Testing sites in southwestern Illinois
Here are free COVID-19 testing options.
- 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
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 October 29, 2020 at 5:25 PM.