Southwest IL COVID positivity rate climbs again as 14-day monitoring period begins
The metro-east’s COVID-19 positivity rate continued to rise Monday, as the state announced tightened restrictions on indoor dining, bars and social gatherings would be reintroduced later this week.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported the metro-east’s seven-day rolling average positivity rate increased from 8.2% on Sunday to 8.4% on Monday. The reintroduction of tightened restrictions comes as a result of the region reporting three consecutive days above 8%.
The positivity rate data reported by the state is delayed by three days, so the rate as of Oct. 23 was the most recent data available Monday. It was the fourth consecutive day the metro-east had a seven-day rolling average positivity rate above 8%.
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.
If the positivity rate stays above 8% for the next 14 days, further mitigations could be added to the metro-east that would further restrict dining, bars, social gatherings, retail and salon businesses and reduce elective surgeries and visitation at regional hospitals.
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 7.4% on Sunday to 7.7% on Monday.
The region’s hospital bed capacity was at 26% on Monday, and its ICU capacity was at 37%. 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.
In St. Clair County, officials once again called on other Region 4 counties to “pitch-in” and help lower the metro-east’s positivity rate.
“Our neighboring counties have got to step up to the plate,” said County Chairman Mark Kern. “St. Clair County has been doing the best we can but we have Bond County at 22% today and the list goes on.”
County Emergency Management Agency Director Herb Simmons people who aren’t following social distancing rules and wearing a mask need to get on board as well.
“To the naysayers out there I don’t know what it’s going to take. This virus — we’re sick of it and you’re sick of it — but guess what? It’s not sick of us. It’s going to be here for a while,” Simmons said. “Please, wear the mask and let’s get these numbers down.”
Illinois reports new cases, deaths Monday
This information is according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
New cases: 4,729 (+667)
New deaths: 17 (-7)
New tests: 57,264 (-14,833)
Total cases: 378,985
Total deaths: 9,522
Total tests: 7,326,216
Hospitalizations: 2,638
People in ICU: 589
People on ventilators: 238
Statewide positivity rate (from Oct. 19-25): 6.3% (+0.1%)
Monday’s COVID-19 case breakdown for Region 4
New cases: 293
New deaths: 1 (Monroe County reported one death at Integrity Long Term Care)
Daily positivity rate (as of Oct. 23): 7.7% (+0.3%)
7-day rolling average (as of Oct. 23): 8.4% (+0.2%)
Hospitalizations: 90
Patients on ventilators: 7
Hospital bed availability: 26% (-1.0%)
ICU bed availability: 26% (-7.0%)
New cases from nearby counties outside Region 4: 0
New deaths from nearby counties outside Region 4: 0
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Monday’s new data: 83 new positives, 827 tests administered
Total overall: 8,967 positives, 220 deaths, 112,137 tests administered, 45 patients hospitalized with three on ventilators
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 23): Daily — 7.5% (-2.8%); seven-day average — 6.8% (+0.3%)
Additional data: Individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 ranged from under the age of 10 to in their 90s. Of the 85 new cases, 39 were under the age of 40.
Congregate living facilities: Four new cases reported at The Esquiline/Dammert Center
ZIP codes with positives:
62059 (Brooklyn): 19
62201 (East St. Louis): 283 (+14)
62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 268 (+24)
62204 (East St. Louis): 173 (+3)
62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 268 (+40)
62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 528 (+14)
62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 271 (+5)
62208 (Fairview Heights): 524 (+25)
62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 671 (+16)
62221 (Belleville): 820 (+43)
62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 547 (+29)
62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 39 (+6)
62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 934 (+43)
62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 239 (+14)
62239 (Dupo): 135 (-1)
62240 (Dupo): 42 (+2)
62243 (Freeburg): 127 (+1)
62254 (Lebanon): 291 (+5)
62255 (Lenzburg): 21
62257 (Marissa): 51 (+9)
62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 238 (+22)
62260 (Millstadt): 169 (+4)
62264 (New Athens): 113 (+5)
62269 (O’Fallon): 715 (+30)
62282 (St. Libory): 17 (+1)
62285 (Smithton): 150 (+5)
62289 (Summerfield): 8
MADISON COUNTY
Monday’s new data: 74 new positives, 795 tests administered
Total overall: 7,289 positives, 153 deaths, 99,003 tests administered, 3,626 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 23): Daily — 6.9% (-2.0%); 7-day average — 7.9% (+0.6%)
Additional data: No new data as of 5:30 p.m.
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 35
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 1,017
- 62010 (Bethalto): 306
- 62012 (Godfrey): 19
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 79
- 62021 (Dorsey): 17
- 62024 (East Alton): 203
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 936
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 358
- 62035 (Godfrey): 568
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 1,100
- 62046 (Hamel): 18
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 35
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 143
- 62061 (Marine): 41
- 62062 (Maryville): 172
- 62067 (Moro): 68
62074 (New Douglas): 14
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 39
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 33
- 62088 (Staunton, Livingston, Williamson): 13
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 36
- 62095 (Wood River): 248
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 64
- 62201: (Fairmont City, Madison): 8
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 730
- 62249 (Highland): 492
- 62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley, Jamestown): 23
62281 (St. Jacob): 81
62293: (St. Morgan): 11
- 62294 (Troy): 335
CLINTON COUNTY
Monday’s new data (From Oct. 24-26): 79 new positives
Total overall: 1,793 positives, 26 deaths, 1,495 recoveries, 13 patients hospitalized
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 23): Daily — 13.0% (+0.4%); 7-day average — 14.9% (-1.0%)
ZIP codes with positives:
62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 75
62216 (Aviston): 182
62218 (Bartelso): 96 (+2)
62230 (Breese): 372 (+52)
62231 (Carlyle): 340 (+39)
62245 (Germantown): 85 (+12)
62265 (New Baden): 171 (+9)
62293 (Trenton): 161 (+33)
62801 (Centralia): 628 (+74)
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Monday’s new data (For Oct. 25-26): 17 new positives
Total overall: 1,307 positives, 15 deaths, 1,143 recoveries, 4 hospitalizations
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 23): Daily — 9.0% (-6.0%); 7-day average — 11.6% (-0.3%)
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 27 (+5)
- 62233 (Chester): 422 (+14)
- 62237 (Coulterville): 88 (+16)
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 33 (+2)
- 62242 (Evansville): 37 (+4)
- 62272 (Percy): 75 (+4)
- 62277 (Prairie Du Rocher): 27 (+3)
- 62278 (Red Bud): 249 (+50)
- 62286 (Sparta): 210 (+17)
- 62288 (Steeleville): 139 (+17)
- 62292 (Tilden): 11 (+2)
- 62297 (Walsh): 9 (+3)
- 62916 (Campbell Hill): 20 (+1)
MONROE COUNTY
Monday’s new data: 7 new positives, one new death
Total overall: 919 positives, 28 deaths, 6 hospitalized
Positivity rates as (of Oct. 23): Daily — 4.2% (-15.2%); 7-day average — 7.7% (+0.7%)
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 339 (+14)
- 62244 (Fults): 12 (+1)
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 40 (+4)
- 62298 (Waterloo): 497 (+50)
BOND COUNTY
Monday’s new data: 22 new positives
Total overall: 516 positives, 10 deaths, 21,725 tests administered, 3 hospitalizations
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 23): Daily — 10.8% (+4.0%); 7-day average — 13 (+0.5%)
ZIP codes with positives:
62086 (Sorento): 29 (+1)
62246 (Greenville): 311 (+26)
62262 (Mulberry Grove): 52 (+6)
62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley): 112 (+6)
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Monday’s new data: 11 new positives
Total overall: 311 positives, 1 death, 279 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 23): Daily — 29.6% (+20.7%); 7-day average — 14.8% (+2.7%)
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 27 (+4)
- 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 133 (+6)
- 62268 (Oakdale): 17 (+1)
- 62271 (Okawville): 45 (+7)
- 62808 (Ashley): 22
- 62848 (Irvington): 20 (+1)
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Monday’s new data: No new data as of 5:30 p.m.
Total overall: 845 positives, 13 deaths, 443 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 23): Daily — 6.0% (-2.2%); 7-day average — 6.2% (-0.5%)
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 27 (+2)
- 62012 (Brighton): 151 (+3)
- 62014 (Bunker Hill): 69 (+9)
62033 (Gillespie): 132 (+6)
62063 (Medora, Summerville, Kemper, Rockbridge): 10 (+1)
62069 (Mount Olive): 49 (+1)
- 62088 (Staunton): 160 (+12)
- 62626 (Carlinville): 131 (+26)
- 62640 (Girard): 35 (+7)
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 16
- 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman): 25 (+4)
- 62690 (Virden): 44 (+8)
JERSEY COUNTY
Monday’s new data: No new data as of 5:30 p.m.
Total overall: 476 positives, 21 deaths, 414 recoveries, 7,632 tests
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 23): Daily — 5.9% (+5.9%); 7-day average — 6.3% (-0.4%)
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 27 (+3)
- 62028 (Elsah): 10 (+1)
- 62031 (Fieldon): 10
- 62037 (Grafton): 50 (+3)
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 299 (+7)
PERRY COUNTY
Monday’s new data: No new data as of 5:30 p.m.
Total overall: 435 positives, 16 deaths, 370 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 23): Daily — 16.1% (-1.3%); 7-day average — 8.1% (-0.1%)
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 16
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 174 (+4)
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 155 (+18)
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 41 (+7)
- 62997 (Willisville): 18 (+1)
CALHOUN COUNTY
Monday’s new data: No new data as of 5:30 p.m.
Total overall: 78 positives, 69 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 23): Daily — 20% (+20.0%); 7-day average — 1.1% (+0.2%)
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62036 (Golden Eagle): 11
- 62047 (Hardin): 20 (+1)
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 Monday early evening:
- Illinois: 378,985 cases, 9,522 deaths, 7,326,216 tests
- U.S.: 8,631,921 cases, 225,212 deaths, 3,422,878 recoveries
- World: 42,912,830 cases, 1,152,729 deaths, 28,890,122 recoveries
Testing sites in southwestern Illinois
Here are free COVID-19 testing options.
- Tuesday, Oct. 27: 9 a.m. to noon at Alhambra Township Park, South Alhambra Road in Alhambra.
- Thursday, Oct. 29: 9 a.m to noon at Granite City High School, 3101 Madison, Ave. in Granite City.
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 26, 2020 at 2:27 PM.