Southwest Illinois COVID positivity rate below 8%, Kern will ‘make case’ to reopen
The positivity rate for COVID-19 testing in the Metro-East Region 4 fell below the 8% threshold that triggered tighter restrictions on businesses back in August, the state of Illinois reported Sunday.
The daily positivity rate for the seven-county region is 7.5%.
It’s the ninth day in the last 10 in which Region 4 saw its positivity rate fall, but the first time it’s been below the 8% threshold since Aug. 10. In the meantime, nearly two weeks has passed since Labor Day weekend without signs of an expected spike in cases, St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said during a daily briefing live-streamed on Facebook.
Kern attributed the falling positivity rate in Region 4 for mitigations imposed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Sept. 2 which, among other things, banned indoor dining and bar service.
“It’s pretty clear. We see our numbers and they are headed in the right direction. That’s no coincidence,” Kern said. “That just doesn’t happen. People are following the guidelines.”
In St. Clair County, the state reported a daily positivity rate of 3.9% and seven-day rolling average of 5.7%. It’s the fourth day in a row the county has seen a rate below 6.5%, the threshold the region must reach collectively for restrictions to be lifted.
But Kern said he’ll begin making his appeal to Pritzker to release the region to Stage 4 of his Restore Illinois plan this week.
“This is our fourth day with a rolling average beneath 6.5%,” he said. “We’ve been using that as a benchmark to be able to get back to dining indoors and having our liquor establishments indoors as well, so we’ll be making the case.”
Other daily positivity rates in Region 4 counties include Bond at 5.1%, Clinton at 11.1%, Madison at 7.5%, Monroe at 3.9% and Randolph at 1.5%.
St. Clair County’s latest rundown
St. Clair County has now had a total of 6,989 COVID-19 diagnoses and 184 deaths since the coronavirus pandemic began.
The county’s daily positivity rate fell again from 4.1% on Saturday— a full percentage point from the day before — to 3.9% on Sunday. The daily positivity rate is the percentage of positives from a day’s worth of coronavirus tests.
The county’s seven-day positivity rate also declined from 5.8% on Saturday to 5.7% on Sunday.
County officials reported 45 coronavirus-related hospitalizations on Sunday, up from 43 Saturday. Three of those patients were on ventilators, two fewer than Saturday.
Ages of people diagnosed with COVID-19 in St. Clair County on Saturday ranged from under 10 to their 60s.
Congregate living centers in St. Clair County reported no new cases or deaths Sunday.
Illinois reports new cases, deaths
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 1,402 new cases of the virus and 14 additional virus-related deaths Sunday.
A total of 274,258 Illinois residents have now tested positive for COVID-19, and 8,450 people have died. More than 5.1 million tests have been conducted for COVID-19.
As of Friday evening, 1,469 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19. Of those individuals, 326 patients were in the ICU — and 141 people were on ventilators. Friday was the latest day numbers on statewide hospitalizations were available.
Southwestern Illinois COVID-19 statistics
ZIP code-level numbers below are provided by the state each afternoon at dph.illinois.gov/covid19/covid19-statistics. Madison and Macoupin counties compile their own statistics by ZIP code 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 county health departments provide.
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:
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Saturday’s new data: 53 new positives, one new death, 1,228 new tests administered, 64 new recoveries, one fewer hospitalization
Total overall: 6,967 positives, 184 deaths, 79,945 tests administered, 6,237 recoveries, 45 hospitalizations with three patients on ventilators.
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62059 (Brooklyn): 11
- 62201 (East St. Louis): 235 (+1)
- 62203 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park, Caseyville): 199
- 62204 (East St. Louis): 138 (+1)
- 62205 (East St. Louis, Alorton, Centreville): 198 (+3)
- 62206 (East St. Louis, Cahokia): 429 (+3)
- 62207 (East St. Louis, Centreville, Alorton): 243 (+1)
- 62208 (Fairview Heights): 420 (+2)
- 62220 (Belleville, Smithton): 555 (+14)
- 62221 (Belleville): 660 (+2)
- 62223 (Belleville, Swansea): 408 (+10)
- 62225 (Scott Air Force Base): 31
- 62226 (Belleville, Swansea): 719 (+4)
- 62232 (Fairview Heights, Caseyville): 193 (+3)
- 62239 (Dupo): 100 (+1)
- 62240 (Dupo): 33 (+1)
- 62243 (Freeburg): 107 (+1)
- 62254 (Lebanon): 258 (+1)
- 62255 (Lenzburg): 16
- 62257 (Marissa): 35
- 62258 (Mascoutah, Fayetteville): 189 (+1)
- 62260 (Millstadt): 141 (+3)
- 62264 (New Athens): 96 (+2)
- 62269 (O’Fallon): 546 (+2)
- 62282 (St. Libory): 12
- 62285 (Smithton): 97 (+5)
- 62289 (Summerfield): 6
MADISON COUNTY
Sunday’s new data: 59 new positives, 1,455 new tests administered, two fewer hospitalizations.
Total overall: 5,341 positives, 130 deaths, 70,183 tests administered, 2,800 recoveries, 15 hospitalizations with five patients on ventilators
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62001 (Kaufman, Alhambra): 23 (+1)
- 62002 (Alton, East Alton, Godfrey): 819 (+7)
- 62010 (Bethalto): 245 (+2)
- 62012 (Godfrey): 113
- 62018 (Alton, Bethalto, East Alton): 60 (+1)
- 62021 (Dorsey): 13
- 62024 (East Alton): 137 (+4)
- 62025 (Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Pontoon Beach, Roxana): 662 (+6)
- 62034 (Glen Carbon): 275 (+7)
- 62035 (Godfrey): 426 (+11)
- 62040 (Granite City, Pontoon Beach): 796 (+26)
- 62046 (Hamel): 13 (+1)
- 62048 (Edwardsville, Granite City, Roxana, Hartford): 16
- 62060 (Granite City, Madison, Venice): 119
- 62061 (Marine): 31
- 62062 (Maryville): 111 (+4)
- 62067 (Moro): 57
62074 (New Douglas): 13 (+4)
- 62084 (Edwardsville, Wood River, Pontoon Beach, Roxana, South Roxana): 30 (+5)
- 62087 (Edwardsville, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford): 28 (+1)
- 62088 (Staunton, Livingston, Williamson): 100
- 62090 (Madison, Venice): 31
- 62095 (Wood River): 175 (+2)
- 62097 (Prairietown, Worden): 49
- 62201: (East St. Louis, Sauget, Fairmont City, Madison, National City): 235
- 62234 (Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, State Park Place): 703
- 62249 (Highland): 313
62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley, Jamestown): 76
62281 (St. Jacob): 55 (+3)
62293: (St. Morgan): 8
- 62294 (Troy): 235
CLINTON COUNTY
Total overall: 1,064 positives, 20 deaths, 774 recoveries, seven hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62215 (Albers, Damiansville): 51 (+1)
- 62216 (Aviston): 103 (+2)
- 62218 (Bartelso): 68 (+1)
- 62230 (Breese): 191 (+3)
- 62231 (Carlyle): 215 (+5)
- 62245 (Germantown): 54
- 62265 (New Baden): 118 (+1)
- 62293 (Trenton): 110 (+1)
- 62801 (Centralia): 302 (+12)
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Total overall: 917 positives, 11 deaths, 11,180 tests administered, 816 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62217 (Baldwin): 17
- 62233 (Chester): 343 (+3)
- 62237 (Coulterville): 63
- 62241 (Ellis Grove): 23
- 62242 (Evansville): 24
- 62272 (Percy): 64
- 62277 (Prairie Du Rocher): 10
- 62278 (Red Bud): 144 (+1)
- 62286 (Sparta): 155 (+1)
- 62288 (Steeleville): 100
- 62292 (Tilden): 6
- 62297 (Walsh): 6
- 62916 (Campbell Hill): 14
MONROE COUNTY
Total overall: 621 positives, 14 deaths
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62236 (Columbia): 249
- 62244 (Fults): 7
- 62295 (Valmeyer): 29 (+1)
- 62298 (Waterloo): 312
MACOUPIN COUNTY
Total overall: 510 positives, eight deaths, 183 recoveries, four hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62009 (Benld, Sawyerville, Mount Clare): 10 (+1)
- 62012 (Brighton): 113(+4)
- 62014 (Bunker Hill): 40
62033 (Gillespie): 85 (+1)
62063 (Medora, Summerville, Kemper, Rockbridge): 8
62069 (Mount Olive): 31
- 62088 (Staunton): 100 (+4)
- 62626 (Carlinville): 62 (+2)
- 62640 (Girard): 12
- 62674 (Palmyra, Barr): 15
- 62685 (Royal Lakes, Plainview, Shipman): 15
- 62690 (Virden): 30
JERSEY COUNTY.
Total overall: 369 positives, 13 deaths, 276 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62022 (Newbern): 21
- 62028 (Elsah): 8
- 62031 (Fieldon): 10
- 62037 (Grafton): 33 (+1)
- 62052 (Jerseyville): 244 (+1)
PERRY COUNTY
Total overall: 330 positives, 15 deaths, 293 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62238 (Cutler): 15
- 62274 (Pinckneyville): 160
- 62832 (Du Quoin): 105
- 62888 (Tamaroa): 24
- 62997 (Willisville): 8
BOND COUNTY
Total overall: 277 positives, four deaths, 12,704 tests administered
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62086 (Sorento): 11 (+2)
- 62246 (Greenville): 187 (+2)
- 62262 (Mulberry Grove): 20
- 62275 (Pocahontas, Old Ripley): 76
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Total overall: 184 positives, one death, 154 recoveries, two hospitalizations
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62214 (Venedy, Addieville): 15
- 62263 (Nashville, New Minden): 80(+3)
- 62268 (Oakdale): 11 (+1)
- 62271 (Okawville): 27
- 62808 (Ashley): 17
- 62848 (Irvington): 17
CALHOUN COUNTY
Total overall: 36 positives, 35 recoveries
ZIP codes with positives:
- 62036 (Golden Eagle): 6
- 62047 (Hardin): 8
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 Sunday afternoon:
- Illinois: 272,856 cases, 8,686 deaths
- U.S.: 6,794,724 cases, 199,474 deaths, 4,171,407 recoveries
- World: 30,908,342 cases, 959,027 deaths, 20,901,024 recoveries
Testing sites in southwestern Illinois
The St. Clair County Health Department has announced free COVID-19 testing in the following location:
- Sunday, Sept. 20: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Gateway Classic Cars at 1237 Central Park Drive in O’Fallon. Tests will be done by a nasal swab. Testing for adults and children over 6 months of age.
- Tuesday, Sept. 22: 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. at Marissa Macke Community Center, 815 N. Borders St., Marissa. Testing will be done by a throat swab by a medical professional. Testing for adults and children over 3.
- Thursday, Sept. 24, and Friday, Sept. 25: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Moody Park, 525 S. Ruby Lane, Fairview Heights. Testing will be done by a nasal swab. Testing for adults and children over 6 months of age.
Thursday, Sept. 24, through Sunday, Sept. 27: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Cahokia Fitness Center, 509 Camp Jackson Road.
No appointment is necessary. Masks are required. Results may take up to a week to receive. Do not call for results. The St. Clair County Health Department will call when the results are available.
Additional Madison County testing sites include:
- Monday, Sept. 21, through Wednesday, Sept. 23: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. at Collinsville (Gateway) Convention Center, 1 Gateway Drive, Collinsville.
Monday, Sept. 21, through Wednesday, Sept. 23: 1-7 p.m. each day at the Community Center, 4011 Cookson Road, Fairmont City.
The IDPH 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 they meet their capacity per day) at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center in East St. Louis, Highway 64 West, exit 4A.
Capacity is limited. Hours of operation are subject to change based on available equipment. For more information, visit http://dph.illinois.gov/testing.
Additionally, Touchette Regional Hospital and SIHF Healthcare offer daily testing in Belleville and Wood River by first calling 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
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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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This story was originally published September 20, 2020 at 7:09 PM.