Pettis County added 37 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on July 5, bringing the total number of cases to 5,286, according to the Pettis County Health Center.
According to the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing issued Tuesday, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website has a positivity rate of 13.4% for the past seven days as compared to 7% for last week and 5.3% two weeks ago with PCR testing. There were 239 PCR tests and 169 antigen tests in the past seven days.
“The local data indicates for the week of June 22-28 there were 24 positive tests and 247 negative tests for a positivity rate of 8.86% and a rate of 56.99/100,000,” the briefing said. “For the month of June there were 58 positive tests and 1,071 negative tests for a positivity rate of 5.42% and a rate of 136.99/100,000.”
To assist with continued testing, the DHSS is offering free in-home testing. An individual may request test kits at https://bit.ly/2Uqt0XB. Two test kits, good for six months, will be mailed to the requestor with a postage-paid envelope to return the sample.
“There are seven individuals hospitalized at Bothwell (with COVID) including two on a ventilator. Last week there were three on the date of this report,” the briefing said. “All inpatients will be tested upon admission. The DHSS website revised the reported deaths in Pettis County to 77. There are a small number of fully vaccinated individuals who are testing positive.”
Pettis County has now vaccinated approximately 31.8% of the population with at least one dose, the briefing said. According to the briefing, the state website states 13,455 Pettis County residents have received one dose and 11,923 are considered fully vaccinated, which is approximately 28.2% of the population.
“Pettis County is falling behind the state rate of 44.7% with at least one dose and 39.3% fully vaccinated. The state is reporting 55.2% of the population over 18 has at least one dose of vaccine and 48.8% are fully vaccinated,” the briefing said. “For Pettis County, 42.2% of the population 18+ has at least one dose and 37.4% are fully vaccinated. Last week 362 doses of vaccine were given to Pettis County residents.”
Pettis County Health Center has regular walk-in clinics from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays. First doses are available as well as second doses for those unable to make their second dose appointment. Call 660-827-1130 to register, but appointments are not required.
OATS is providing transportation to vaccine clinics free of charge. To schedule transportation, call 1-800-276-6287.
Mental health issues are a challenge during holidays in a normal year and can be worse during the isolation of a pandemic. Burrell Behavioral Health has a crisis line at 1-800-395-2132. Compass Health also has a crisis line at 1-800-237-4567 for substance abuse issues.
Bothwell Regional Health Center will be administering Pfizer vaccines from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 7 at Bothwell Internal Medicine and Johnson & Johnson vaccines from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. July 7 at Bothwell Internal Medicine.
“Effective July 3, Bothwell will again test all patients for Covid-19 upon hospital admission. Patients will be placed in isolation and considered positive until test results are determined,” the briefing said. “This change is due to the rising number of positive Covid-19 cases in our community and the number of patients who are currently hospitalized with the virus.”
COVID-19 testing is available at the Bothwell Walk In Clinic located on the first floor of the Healing Arts Center. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Katy Trail Community Health is offering free COVID vaccines and free COVID testing at all sites on a walk-in basis. In Pettis County, you can be tested or vaccinated at 821 Westwood Drive. Go to www.katytrailcommunityhealth.org or call 877-733-5824.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported a seven-day total of 4,562 confirmed cases for an average of 652 per day. There were a total of 12 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Missouri during the last seven days, representing an average of two deaths per day. There were a total of 53,314 vaccinations, representing an average of 7,616 per day.