Sunday live coronavirus updates: Apple donates 100,000 N95 masks to Illinois

Here is a roundup of coronavirus news you need to know on Sunday:

Apple donates 100,000 N95 masks

During his daily COVID-19 news conference Sunday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker thanked Apple and its CEO, Tim Cook, for donating 100,000 N95 masks to Illinois health care workers and first responders.

“We’re very grateful,” Prtizker said.

During the news conference, Pritzker also announced 1,672 new cases of coronavirus in the state, including 43 new deaths.

Pritzker kept the daily news conference brief, he said, in light of the Easter holiday.

Coronavirus testing site to open in East St. Louis

A new coronavirus testing site is set to open in East St. Louis in an effort to increase testing in the metro-east.

State Sen. Chris Belt, D-Cahokia, and State Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, on Saturday announced the opening of a new COVID-19 testing site at the Windsor Health Center, 100 N. Eighth St.

In a joint statement, Belt and Greenwood announced through a partnership with the Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation system that three testing locations will offer 470 test swabs per day. Test swabs will be sent to Anderson Hospital in Madison County for processing.

The other two sites have yet to be announced.

“This pandemic has exposed the harsh and grim reality of subpar healthcare that has led to glaring comorbidity rates for citizens residing in impoverished communities, particularly for African Americans. Access to quality healthcare must be a right of every single person in this country, no matter their socioeconomic status or zip code,” Belt said.

“The governor listened to our request and he answered in making sure the citizens in East St. Louis and the surrounding communities received the necessary resources in obtaining access, testing and treatment during this crisis,” Greenwood added.

More information on the testing site is expected to be announced Monday during a live stream on East St. Louis’ Facebook page www.facebook.com/estlcityhall.

Perry County reports first coronavirus case

The first case of coronavirus has been announced in Perry County, according to the county health department.

The individual diagnosed with COVID-19 is a woman in her 30s who, according to the health department, is believed to have acquired the virus through contact with an individual with a known or suspected case of the virus.

The woman is currently in quarantine.

In a statement, the health department said it is monitoring the patient with the Illinois Department of Public Health, local hospitals in Perry County and the county’s emergency management authorities.

Southwestern Illinois coronavirus cases by county

Here’s a breakdown of the coronavirus cases in southwestern Illinois as of Sunday afternoon:

• St. Clair: 179 positives, nine deaths, 845 tests administered, 74 tests pending
• Madison: 112 positives, two deaths, 35 recovered
• Clinton: 33 positives, 141 tests administered, six recovered
• Monroe: 46 positives, one death
• Washington: Two positive cases, 22 tests administered, two recovered
• Randolph:40 positives, 19 recovered
• Bond: Four positives, 30 tested, one recovered
• Jersey: Six positive cases, four recovered
• Macoupin: 13 positives, 130 tests administered, four recovered, three pending
• Calhoun: One positive
• Perry: One positive

Local, state, nation, world cases totals

As of Sunday, the latest statistics available showed:

• Southwestern Illinois: 437 patients, 12 deaths
• Illinois: 20,852 patients, 720 deaths
  
  
• U.S.: 546,874 patients, 21,686 deaths
  
  
• World: 1,833,685 patients, 113,296 deaths
  
  

Expiration dates for Illinois driver’s licenses extended

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced his office will extend expiration dates for driver’s licenses, identification cards, vehicle registrations and other transactions and document filings for at least 90 days after driver services facilities reopen.

The facilities will remain closed until at least April 30. The previous extension was only for 30 days.

“Extending expiration dates by at least 90 days after driver services facilities reopen is the right thing to do,” White said. “It will ensure driver’s licenses, ID cards and vehicle registrations remain valid during this pandemic and will help alleviate the rush of customers visiting facilities once they reopen.”

People can still conduct some transactions online at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

Postponed and canceled events

The News-Democrat has compiled a list of events in Illinois and St. Louis that have been canceled due to concerns about coronavirus.

You can find the list at BND.com.

Want to help? Here’s what you need to know

The BND has compiled a list of ways you can help during the coronavirus pandemic.

Go to BND. com to learn about the opportunities to volunteer your time or donate to help communities in the metro-east without putting yourself or others at risk.

You can sew face masks, read stories for people with vision loss and deliver meals to seniors.

If you know of a recognized charitable organization looking for help that isn’t listed, please tell us about it; send an email to newsroom@bnd.com or fill out the BND’s Southwest Illinois coronavirus service and assistance guide online at BND.com.

Get the latest news on coronavirus

BND.com will keep you updated through the day with information about the spread of coronavirus through southwestern Illinois.

You can also find the most complete and up-to-date information from government sites including:

• State of Illinois’ coronavirus 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

How to contact the BND with tips, concerns

If you have suggestions about something for the BND to cover regarding the coronavirus 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.

If you’re a health care worker, we’d like to hear from you

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.

Recovering from COVID-19? The BND would like to talk to you

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 April 12, 2020 at 12:00 AM.