ALTON - There was a huge signal that business is getting back to normal in Downtown Alton on Wednesday when barriers on State Street that created temporary outdoor seating areas for bars/restaurants were removed.

The Alton Public Works staff was busy Wednesday with the barrier removal. One of those involved in the barrier removal said the wall built outside Morrison’s on State Street in Alton, for now, will stay in place.

Get The Latest News!

Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.

In a recent interview, Alton Mayor David Goins said he and other city officials have their fingers crossed that the COVID-19 rates continue to decline. The seven-day positivity rate in Madison County has dropped to 1.38 percent

Article continues after sponsor message

The positivity rate is the percentage of people who test positive for the COVID-19 virus of those overall who have been tested. There are only 149 active COVID-19 cases to date listed on the Madison County Health Department site. A total of 503 have died in Madison County from COVID-19-related complications.

Mayor Goins encouraged residents to continue with COVID-19 vaccinations if they haven’t already had one.

“We are returning back to a sense of normalcy,” Mayor Goins said. “It is a great thing.”

Prefer RiverBender on Google
Copyright 2026 Riverbender.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

 

More like this:

Alton Draws Thousands for Expanded July 3, 2026, Fireworks
Today
Alton Changes Residency Requirements For Non-Union City Employees
Jun 10, 2026
James Killion Day 2026 Draws Strong Community Support in Alton
May 26, 2026
Alton Committee Postpones Easing City Employee Residency Requirements
May 11, 2026
Alton Further Delays Residency Rule Changes For City Employees
May 26, 2026