Pettis County added 48 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 7,343, according to the Pettis County Health Center.
“The (Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services) website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 5.7% for the past seven days which is a decrease from 6.4% for the last week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Monday. “This week there were 457 PCR tests and 290 antigen tests for a total of 747. Last week there were 814 tests.”
According to the Pettis County Health Center, from Oct. 15-21, the groups with the highest number of new cases were 19-24-year-olds with seven and 25-29-year-olds with six. There were 10 individuals birth to 18 with positive cases reported in the time period. Since July 1, 21.31% of total cases are in individuals 0-18 years of age.
“For the period Oct. 18-24 there were 50 positive tests reported and 11 were fully vaccinated for a break-through rate of 22% which leaves an unvaccinated rate of 78%,” the briefing said. “Most of the breakthrough cases received the Pfizer vaccine. The month of last vaccination for the highest number of cases was February with six followed by April with three, May with one, and September with one. Three people were partially vaccinated.”
As of Friday, according to the briefing, there were 1,038 hospitalized in Missouri as compared to 1,174 hospitalized with COVID last week. There are 269 people in ICU and 174 on ventilators as compared to 325 people in ICU and 210 on ventilators last week.
There are eight individuals hospitalized at Bothwell Regional Health Center as compared to 11 last week. The age range is 45-83. There are three patients on a ventilator, the same as last week. The ventilator patients were not vaccinated.
The DHSS website now reports 103 deaths in Pettis County, up from 102 last week.
Approximately 42.1% of the population of Pettis County residents have started vaccination. According to the state website, 17,814 Pettis County residents have started vaccination and 15,998 are considered fully vaccinated which is approximately 37.8% of the population. Pettis County is falling behind the state rate of 55% have started vaccination and 49.1% fully vaccinated. The state is reporting 66.7% of the population over 18 has started and 59.6% are fully vaccinated.
For Pettis County, 53.2% of the population 18 and older have started vaccination (16,985) and 48% (15.301) are fully vaccinated. According to the DHSS website, 23.7% (827) of 12-17-year-olds have started vaccination and 20% (696) are fully vaccinated.
Pettis County Health Center has regular walk-in clinics from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Thursdays and from noon to 3 p.m. on Fridays. First doses are available as well as second doses and third/booster doses.
The majority of doses of vaccine given last week continue to be third or booster doses of Pfizer.
On Friday, Oct. 22, the state DHSS issued updated standing orders approving booster doses of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations.
A booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine can be administered to people at least six months after their initial series based on this guidance:
● people 65 years and older should receive a booster;
● residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster;
● people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster;
● people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster; and
● people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional settings (e.g., frontline medical workers, teachers, and first responders) may receive a booster.
Effective Monday, Oct. 25, Bothwell’s COVID-19 testing will move from a drive-thru process at Bothwell Healing Arts Center to inside Bothwell Walk-In Clinic, which is located on the south side of the Healing Arts Center at 3700 W. 10th St. in Sedalia. Parking is available in front of the clinic entrance.
People must register for a testing appointment before arriving at the clinic by calling 660-827-7900. Patients should expect full registration to take about 15 minutes.
Upon arrival at the Walk-In Clinic, people should check-in by calling 660-827-7900 and remain in their car until they receive a phone call to go inside the clinic. Masks are required to be worn to and from the testing room. Only standard PCR tests will be given to people utilizing Walk-In Clinic testing.
Regular testing hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Beginning Oct. 25, Bothwell will provide monoclonal antibody infusion treatment for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and who have had onset of symptoms within the last 10 days. Monoclonal antibody infusion can help the body fight off COVID-19 and reduce the risk of severe illness or hospitalization.
This week’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics are from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27 (Pfizer) and from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29 (Moderna) at Bothwell Healing Arts Center, second floor. People who want the Johnson & Johnson vaccine either as the initial dose or a booster dose should contact Katy Trail Community Health.
People may walk in; however, appointments are encouraged by calling 660-829-8888 or scheduling in Bothwell’s patient portal, MyBothwellHealth at www.brhc.org/portal or in the MHealth app. There is no charge for the vaccine.
Katy Trail Community Health is offering free vaccines and free testing at its Sedalia Site. The vaccine is also available at other locations in Warsaw, Versailles, and Marshall. Vaccines are available on a walk-in basis at 821 Westwood Drive. For testing, go to www.katytrailcommunityhealth.org.
