Pettis County added 41 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 4,773, according to the Pettis County Health Center.
There are now 202 active cases and 4,501 residents have been released to normal activity. Eight residents are now hospitalized seeking treatment for the virus.
According to the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing issued Monday, this is an increase of 71 cases in the past week and 164 cases in the past two weeks.
“The number of positive cases continues to decline which is a good sign,” information from the Health Center in the briefing states. “We need to continue testing to be sure that unknown cases do not spread disease in the community.”
The briefing states about 3,000 doses of vaccine were administered in the community last week due to partners including Bothwell Regional Health Center, Woods Pharmacy, Katy Trail Community Health, AFC Urgent Care, Missouri National Guard and the Pettis County Health Center. Additional vaccine will be distributed this week by appointment only. Those who have preregistered through the Pettis County Health Center may be called by any of the vaccinators in the county or the VA if eligible. According to the briefing, the county has received thousands of preregistration forms from all over the state.
There is a new screening form at pettiscountyhealthcenter.com and brhc.org/vaccine as of Feb. 1. According to the briefing, the criteria changed since the original forms were published. Paper copies will continue to be available.
“Even though vaccine is becoming available we still need to wear masks, practice social distancing, wash our hands,” the briefing states. “Vaccine protects the person immunized and the science has not completely determined if an immunized person can spread the virus. We need to reach at least 75% immunization rate to be able to relax these precautions.”
According to information from Bothwell in the briefing, due to high call volumes, the hospital’s COVID vaccine phone line will not be taking calls at this time to allow the staff to schedule appointments based on the preregistration forms received to date.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported a seven-day total of 7,469 cases on Monday or an average of 1,067 per day. There were a total of 36 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Missouri during the last seven days, representing an average of five deaths per day.
Bothwell Regional Health Center is among the Missouri hospitals selected to receive more COVID-19 vaccine in February.
DHSS announced Monday a list of Missouri hospitals that will be receiving just over half of the state’s weekly vaccine allocation through the month of February. A news release states federal partners are responsible for the state’s total allocation, which is currently approximately 76,000 doses per week.
“We are committed to fairly allocating doses in regions throughout the state and working with vaccinators to ensure efficient administration of the vaccine,” Gov. Mike Parson said in the release. “Our partnership with the selected hospitals will help provide the consistency needed for effective planning of high-volume vaccine clinics to occur at the local level.”
Bothwell is part of Region A and will receive doses in the weeks of Feb. 8 and Feb. 22.
The state is committing about 53% of weekly allocations to selected hospitals, and approximately 23% will be devoted to regional mass vaccination events. Eight percent will be allocated to local public health agencies, and another 8% will be received by federally qualified health centers. The remaining 8% will go to any other enrolled providers, or “community providers,” requesting vaccine.
The release states the decision is focused on the selected hospitals in each region of the state identified as having the capability to administer 5,000 vaccines per week. Actual allocations will be proportional to the regional population.
For more information, visit www.MOStopsCovid.com.
