Free COVID-19 testing site, vaccine location in St. Clair County set to close
Two locations for free COVID-19 testing and vaccinations in St. Clair County will close Thursday.
The St. Clair County Health Department announced Wednesday morning the COVID-19 testing services at St. Clair Square will cease Thursday. Additionally, they announced Wednesday the last day to receive a COVID vaccination at 330 West Main St. in Belleville also will be Thursday.
The department cited a sharp drop in the testing demand for the closure at St Clair Square. The last day for testing at St. Clair Square will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday.
According to the health department Facebook page, people still can get tested at locations such as Walgreens, CVS and Walmart in partnership with Quest Diagnostics. Meanwhile, free home tests are available at https://loom.ly/olBTF9g. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order two sets of four free at-home tests.
For more information on testing sites, people can visit https://www.co.st-clair.il.us/webdocuments/departments/health/covid/covidTesting.pdf.
As far as securing a vaccine, the 330 West Main location remains open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday offering Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. They administer the first, second and booster COVID vaccines to ages 12-plus as outlined by the CDC.
Starting Friday, people can schedule their COVID vaccine at the health department at 19 Public Square, Belleville. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 4-6 p.m. the second Thursday of the month. For more information, visit https://loom.ly/qk2cRJ8
People also still can get vaccinated at locations such as Walgreens, CVS and other area pharmacies.
The COVID positivity rates for St. Clair County and Region 4 have been plummeting in recent weeks. As of data released Tuesday by the Illinois Department of Public Health, the positivity rate for Region 4 and St. Clair County was at 1.2%
In other Region 4 counties, Bond stood at 1.2% on Tuesday; Clinton at 1.1%; Madison at 1.2%; Monroe at 1.1%; Randolph at 1.2%; and Washington 1.2%. All positivity rates are among the lowest reported since the IDPH started tracking data in June 2020.
Overall, the positivity rate has been below the 8% threshold 46-straight days after previously being above that mark since right before Christmas.
Meanwhile, as of Tuesday, the ICU bed availability stood at 35% — marking 43-straight days above the 20% threshold — while Region 4 hospitals reported 65 consecutive days of COVID-19 patient decreases.
This story was originally published March 30, 2022 at 11:32 AM.