Metro-east region reports 171 new COVID-19 cases, four deaths Friday
County health departments in the metro-east region reported a total of 171 new positive tests and four new deaths Friday as of 5:30 p.m.
Madison County announced 76 new cases Friday, down from 80 on Thursday, and three new deaths — a woman in her 60s, a woman in her 70s, a woman in her 90s and a woman in his 80s. It is unknown if they had any underlying health conditions.
St. Clair County announced 64 new COVID-19 cases Friday, down from 78 cases reported on Thursday, and one new death, as the metro-east region’s positivity rate rose above the state threshold of 8%.
Officials said a man in his 70s with unknown health conditions died of the deadly virus.
Other metro-east region counties reporting new cases as of 5:30 p.m. Friday included Clinton (24), Monroe (four) and Bond (one).
Additionally, outside the metro-east region, Calhoun County reported two additional COVID-19 positive patients.
Metro-east counties above state’s positivity threshold
The metro-east is above the state thresholds that could bring back restrictions on when and where people can gather, according to information Illinois provided Friday.
The Illinois Department of Public Health’s website showed the metro-east reached its highest rate of new diagnoses yet with an average of 8.2% of the coronavirus tests performed in those counties over the prior seven days positive, as of Tuesday.
The state defines the metro-east region as St. Clair, Madison, Randolph, Clinton, Monroe, Washington and Bond counties.
If 8% or more of the tests performed in the past seven days are positive for COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, for three consecutive days, the state says it will reimpose some restrictions that had been lifted.
Statistics on the state’s website at dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics are delayed by three days, so Tuesday was the latest date information was available on Friday.
The metro-east’s 8.2% is a higher rate than Chicago or any other region of Illinois. The statewide average was 4.1% as of Tuesday.
Additionally, the metro-east’s rate of diagnoses had increased for five days, and just 29% of medical and surgical beds in the region were available as of Tuesday. If this trend continues, it also could trigger restrictions.
Even if the rate of new diagnoses does not reach 8% for three days, the state would step in if the rate increases for seven out of 10 days and if hospital resources take a hit at the same time.
St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Director Herb Simmons said during the county’s daily briefing Friday he expects the region’s positivity rate to remain above 8% for the full three days.
“If the next two day’s numbers are what we think they’re going to look like we’re going to have those three days of over that 8%,” Simmons said.
He said naysayers who are not following social distance guidelines and not wearing masks are why the region will most likely have to shut down again.
“I want to say it again today what we have been saying for weeks... we have got to get together and beat this,” Simmons said. “We are responsible for these numbers. Those of you who haven’t bought into it I’m sorry for you but you are going to be a big factor for why we go backward.”
Two counties in southwestern Illinois, Clinton and Perry, are at the state’s warning level due to certain metrics of COVID-19 spread. Counties are put on this warning list for “numerous” indicators including number of deaths, new cases, weekly test positivity, ICU availability and more.
St. Clair County’s latest rundown
St. Clair County now has 4,662 coronavirus cases and 160 deaths related to the virus, leading the metro-east in both categories.
Additionally, the county announced a daily positivity rate of 7.6% on Friday, up from 7.1% on Thursday. The positivity rate is the percentage of coronavirus tests that are positive among those tests taken that day.
The county announced Friday that 47 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19, with no individuals on a ventilator.
New cases ranged in age from young people under 10 to people in their 70s. Of the 64 new cases, 37 were of people under 40. Specifically, four of the young people are under 10; seven of young people are in their teens; 23 are in their 20s and 11 are in their 30s.
The county also reported cases at the following congregate care facilities: Autumn Meadows (one new case, no deaths), Caritas Family Solutions (two new cases, no deaths), Caseyville Rehab (two new cases, no deaths), Memorial Care Center (one new case, no deaths) and Parkway Gardens (one new case, no deaths.)
Madison County by the numbers
Madison County, meanwhile, now has 2,867 coronavirus cases and 85 deaths.
The biggest jumps by zip code in Madison County on Friday were 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey — +23 for a total of 431); and 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach — +11 for a total of 470);
The county reported a daily positivity rate of 9.28%, up from 9.76% on Thursday, and its seven-day moving average positivity rate of 9.05% is up from 9.11% on Thursday.
Cases ranged from young people under 10 to individuals in their 90s. Cases included four young people in their teens, 21 people in their 20s, 10 people in their 30s and 10 people in their 40s.
Illinois surpasses 2,000 COVID cases, nears 7,700 deaths
Meanwhile, the state announced 2,264 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday and 25 additional virus-related deaths.
Illinois has seen a total of 7,721 deaths during the pandemic, officials reported. A total of 202,691 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, while more than 3.2 million people have been tested for COVID-19, 49,541 of which were tested since Thursday.
Currently, 1,612 people in Illinois are in the hospital with COVID-19, and of those patients, 345 are in the ICU and 126 patients are using ventilators.
As of Friday, the preliminary seven-day statewide positivity rate from Aug. 8-14 was 4.1%.
Southwestern Illinois COVID-19 statistics
The following are the latest available statistics by county. ZIP code-level numbers are provided by the state each afternoon at dph.illinois.gov/covid19/covid19-statistics. Madison County compiles its own ZIP code statistics from the state reporting system later in the day, so the numbers may differ from what appears on the Illinois Department of Public Health’s website.
The Belleville News-Democrat reports the information Madison County provides. ZIP codes with fewer than five cases of the virus are not reported by health officials. The number in parentheses after each ZIP code below reflects the change from the previous day’s cumulative total. A decrease reflects a correction. All other information comes from local health departments. The “recoveries” figure refers to the number of people who completed the required isolation period in most counties:
Here are the latest available statistics for southwestern Illinois counties. The number in parentheses reflects how the new daily total compares to the prior day’s total. Subtractions occur when a COVID-19 positive patient is misdiagnosed or moves away from the area.
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 64 new positives, one new death, 837 new tests administered, 108 new recoveries, two additional hospitalizations
Total overall: 4,662 positives, 160 deaths, 48,737 tests administered, 3,915 recoveries, 47 hospitalizations, no patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 10
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 200 (+3)
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 165 (+1)
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 122 (+1)
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 167 (-1)
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 368 (+1)
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 217 (+2)
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 302 (+6)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 383 (+7)
- 62221 (Belleville): 431 (+5)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 243 (+14)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 19
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 487 (+9)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 108 (+4)
- 62239 (Dupo): 57 (+1)
- 62240 (Dupo): 19
- 62243 (Freeburg): 36
- 62254 (Lebanon): 145 (+8)
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 13
- 62257 (Marissa): 26 (+1)
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 79 (+2)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 75 (+2)
- 62264 (New Athens): 72 (+1)
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 346 (+5)
- 62285 (Smithton): 47
MADISON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 76 new positives, three new deaths, 819 new tests administered
Total overall: 2,867 positives, 85 deaths, 46,694 tests administered, 1,246 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 11
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 431 (+23)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 108
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 26
- 62021 (Dorsey): 6
- 62024 (East Alton): 47 (+1)
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 396 (+8)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 186 (+5)
- 62035 (Godfrey): 155 (+4)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 470 (+11)
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 6
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 82 (+1)
- 62061 (Marine): 15
- 62062 (Maryville): 69
- 62067 (Moro): 26 (+1)
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 8
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 12 (+1)
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 27
- 62095 (Wood River): 79 (+4)
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 16 (+1)
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 332
- 62249 (Highland): 149 (+5)
- 62281 (St. Jacob): 30 (+1)
- 62294 (Troy): 151 (+3)
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data as of 5:30 p.m.
Total overall: 504 positives, seven deaths, 442 recoveries, 6,924 tests administered, two hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 12
- 62233 (Chester): 163 (+1)
- 62237 (Coulterville): 33
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 12
- 62242 (Evansville): 13
- 62272 (Willisville, Percy): 59
- 62278 (Red Bud): 68 (+2)
- 62286 (Sparta): 90 (+3)
- 62288 (Steeleville): 567 (+1)
CLINTON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 24 new positives, 13 new recoveries
Total overall: 464 positives, 17 deaths, 333 recoveries, 3 hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 17
- 62216 (Aviston): 28 (+3)
- 62218 (Bartelso): 14
- 62230 (Breese): 49 (+1)
- 62231 (Carlyle): 117 (+1)
- 62245 (Germantown): 23 (+1)
- 62265 (New Baden): 83 (+5)
- 62293 (Trenton): 50 (+3)
- 62801 (Centralia): 118 (-1)
MONROE COUNTY
Friday’s new data: Four new positives
Total overall: 340 positives, 12 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 152 (+6)
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 14
- 62298 (Waterloo): 148 (+5)
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Friday’s new data: 13 new positives
Total overall: 250 positives, four deaths, 12,413 tests administered with 82 results pending, two hospitalizations, 54 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 6
- 62012 (Brighton): 39 (+1)
62014 (Bunker Hill): 17
62033 (Gillespie): 42 (+5)
62069 (Mount Olive): 14
- 62088 (Staunton): 38 (+8)
- 62626 (Carlinville): 37 (+2)
- 62640 (Girard): 8 (+1)
- 62690 (Virden): 12 (+1)
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 7
PERRY COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data as of 5:30 p.m.
Total overall: 198 positives, three deaths, 116 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 12
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 95 (+7)
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 51 (+1)
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 8
JERSEY COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data as of 5:30 p.m.
Total overall: 144 positives, two deaths, 81 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 10 (+1)
- 62037 (Grafton): 14 (+2)
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 81 (+12)
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Friday’s new data: No new data as of 5:30 p.m.
Total overall: 68 positives, 62 recoveries, four hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 7
- 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 21
- 62271 (Okawville): 12
- 62808 (Ashley): 9
- 62848 (Irvington): 7
BOND COUNTY
Friday’s new data: One new positive
Total overall: 71 positives, three deaths, 3,617 tests administered
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62246 (Greenville): 44 (+2)
- 62275 (Pocahontas): 16 (+1)
CALHOUN COUNTY
Friday’s new data: Two new positives
Total overall: 12 positives, nine recoveries
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: 202,691 cases, 7,721 deaths
- U.S.: 5,262,791 cases, 167,165 deaths, 2,695,655 recoveries
- World: 20,936,041 cases, 759,844 deaths, 13,006,841 recoveries
St. Clair County, Madison County testing sites
Working with Illinois Department of Public Health and Southern Illinois Health Foundation, the St. Clair County Health Department is co-sponsoring the following test sites,with more test sites to be announced:
- Monday, Aug. 17: Shiloh Community Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, Aug. 18: Belleville West High School from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Friday, Aug. 21: Fairview Heights Moody Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
No appointment necessary. Masks are required. Test are free; people should bring their health insurance card if they have one. Testing is for adults and chidlren over 3 years old.
Photo identification required. Tests will be done by throat swab by a medical professional.
Results may take up to a week to receive. Do not call for results. People will be contacted by the St. Clair County Health Department when the results area available.
Madison County is also hosting several test sites.
To view those, visit https://www.bnd.com/news/coronavirus/article244856052.html.
Want to help? Here are some ideas
The BND has compiled a list of ways you can help during the COVID-19 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 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:
- Touchette Regional Hospital’s Mental Health Support and Resource Line: Call 618-482-7158 to talk to trained therapy staff.
- 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 August 14, 2020 at 4:40 PM.