COVID-19 positivity rate on the rise again in southwestern Illinois, sets case record
The metro-east drifted further away from the possibility of reduced COVID-19 restrictions Friday, as the region’s positivity rate increased again and the state and region recorded another record day of new cases.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported the seven-day rolling average positivity rate for the metro-east, known as Region 4, increased from at 8.5% on Thursday to 8.7% on Friday.
Meanwhile, metro-east counties reported a total of 317 new COVID-19 cases, the most the region has ever reported in a single day.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered tightened restrictions - known as tier 1 - on bars, restaurants and social gatherings once again earlier this week as a result of Region 4 reporting three consecutive days above 8%. The metro-east needs three consecutive days with a seven-day average under 6.5% for restrictions to be relaxed. If the rate doesn’t decrease after 14 days, the state could order tighter restrictions.
Region 4 includes St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, Bond, Washington, Clinton and Randolph counties.
On Oct. 9, Pritzker lifted tightened restrictions when the positivity rate fell below 6.5% for three days, then put them back into place at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.
St. Clair County officials said the numbers are continuing to trend in the wrong direction, increasing the possibility that local businesses may have to close due to the restrictions.
“Its not a good situation for them,” said St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Director Herb Simmons. “The best way to support them is to chip in and help get these numbers down.”
The positivity rate data reported by the state is delayed by three days, so the rate as of Oct. 27 was the most recent data available Friday. 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
Region 4 saw an increase in its daily positivity rate from 9.7% on Thursday to 10% on Friday.
The region’s hospital bed capacity was at 26% on Friday, and its ICU capacity was at 41%. If the ICU capacity falls under 20%, new restrictions could also be enacted by the state.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths Friday
This information is according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
New cases: 6,943 (+580)
New deaths: 36 (-20)
New tests: 95,111 (+12,055)
Total cases: 402,401
Total deaths: 9,711
Total tests: 7,637,209
Hospitalizations: 3,092 (+62)
People in ICU: 673 (+30)
People on ventilators: 288 (+19)
Statewide positivity rate (from Oct. 23-29): 8.5% (+1.6%)
Friday’s COVID-19 case breakdown for Region 4
New cases: 317
New deaths: 2 (Two deaths reported in Randolph County)
Daily positivity rate (as of Oct. 27): 10% (+0.3%)
7-day rolling average (as of Oct. 27): 8.7% (+0.2)
Hospitalizations: 95
Patients on ventilators: 13
Hospital bed availability: 26% (-2.0%)
ICU bed availability: 41% (no change)
New cases from nearby counties outside Region 4: 21
New deaths from nearby counties outside Region 4: 0
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 94 new positives, 1,140 new tests administered
Total overall: 9,246 positives, 222 deaths, 115,645 tests administered, 8,319 recoveries, 44 patients hospitalized with 7 on ventilators
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 27): Daily — 9.2% (+1.8%); 7-day average — 7.4% (+0.2%)
Additional data: Individuals diagnosed ranged in age from under 1 to their 100s. Of the 94 new cases, 64 were individuals under the age of 40.
Congregate living facilities: Brightly Senior Living reported 7 new cases, Caseyville Nursing and Rehab reported one new case and the Esquiline/Dammert Center reported 2 new cases.
MADISON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 121 new positives, 798 new tests administered.
Total overall: 7,622 positives, 158 deaths, 101,874 tests administered, 3,678 recoveries, 27 patients hospitalized with 6 on ventilators
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 27): Daily — 7.7% (-3.5); 7-day average — 8% (+0.2)
Additional data: Individuals diagnosed ranged in age 10 and under to their 80s. Of the 121 new cases, 27 were individuals were under the age of 40.
CLINTON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 31 new positives
Total overall: 1,850 positives, 31 deaths, 1,578 recoveries, 10 patients hospitalized
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 27): Daily — 15.4% (-1.5%); 7-day average — 14.4% (no change)
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 18 new positives, two new deaths
Total overall: 1,392 positives, 17 deaths, 1,225 recoveries, 16,369 tests administered, 1 hospitalizations
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 27): Daily — 17.0% (+3.2%); 7-day average — 11.3% (+0.1%)
MONROE COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 24 new positives
Total overall: 1,021 new positives, 28 deaths, 8 hospitalized
Positivity rates as (of Oct. 27): Daily — 17.6% (-2.8%); 7-day average — 10.5% (+1.0%)
BOND COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 9 new positives
Total overall: 544 positives, 10 deaths, 23,145 tests administered, 2 hospitalizations
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 27): Daily — 0.0% (-4.0%); 7-day average — 6.3% (no change)
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 20 new positives
Total overall: 342 positives, 2 death, 304 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 26): Daily — 19.7% (+5.4%); 7-day average — 17% (+2.2%)
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data as of 5 p.m.
Total overall: 896 positives, 14 deaths, 475 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 27): Daily — 5.5% (-11.0%); 7-day average — 6.2% (+0.3%)
JERSEY COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data as of 5 p.m.
Total overall: 477 positives, 21 deaths, 490 recoveries, 8,357 tests
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 27): Daily — 8.7% (+4.4%); 7-day average — 5.4% (+0.5%)
PERRY COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 21 new positives
Total overall: 485 positives, 16 deaths, 380 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 27): Daily — 18.7% (+7.3%); 7-day average — 14.6% (+2.6%)
CALHOUN COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data as of 5 p.m.
Total overall: 100 positives, 80 recoveries
Positivity rates (as of Oct. 27): Daily — 9.7% (-23.6%); 7-day average — 7.4% (+1.1%)
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 Friday afternoon:
- Illinois: 402,401 cases, 9,711 deaths, 7,637,209 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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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 30, 2020 at 1:51 PM.