Pettis County added 60 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 7,295, 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 6.4% for the past seven days which is a decrease from 8.6% for the last week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Monday. “This week there were 518 PCR tests and 296 antigen tests for a total of 814. Last week there were 1,009 tests.”
According to the Pettis County Health Center, from Oct. 8-14 the groups with the highest number of new cases were 40-44-year-olds with seven and 55-59-year-olds with six. There were eight individuals birth to 18 with positive cases reported in the time period. Since July 1, 21.51% (same as last week) or 434 of total cases are in individuals 0-18 years of age.
“For the period Oct. 11-18 there were 82 positive tests reported and 21 were fully vaccinated for a break-through rate of 25.6% which leaves an unvaccinated rate of 74.4%,” 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 10 followed by March and April with four. Two people were partially vaccinated.”
As of Friday, according to the briefing, there were 1,174 hospitalized in Missouri as compared to 920 hospitalized with COVID last week. There are 325 people in ICU and 210 on ventilators as compared to 241 people in ICU and 176 on ventilators last week.
There are 11 individuals hospitalized at Bothwell Regional Health Center as compared to nine last week. The age range is 45-89. There are three patients on a ventilator compared to one last week. The ventilator patients were not vaccinated. All inpatients will be tested upon admission. The DHSS website now reports 102 deaths in Pettis County up from 100 last week.
Approximately 41.8% of the population of Pettis County residents have started vaccination. According to the state website, 17,717 Pettis County residents have started vaccination and 15,870 are considered fully vaccinated, which is approximately 37.5% of the population. Pettis County is falling behind the state rate of 54.6% have started vaccination and 48.7% fully vaccinated. The state is reporting 66.2% of the population over 18 has started and 59.2% are fully vaccinated.
For Pettis County, 53% of the population 18 and older have started vaccination and 47.6% are fully vaccinated. According to the DHSS website, 23.5% of 12-17-year-olds have started vaccination and 19.7% 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 were third or booster doses of Pfizer.
People who received the Pfizer vaccine can receive a booster shot at least six months after their initial series based on this guidance:
● People 65 years and older and 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, first responders, food and agriculture workers, manufacturing workers, corrections workers, U.S. Postal Service workers, public transit workers, grocery store workers) may receive a booster.
According to Bothwell Regional Health Center, due to the decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases in the hospital and community, Bothwell has changed some hospital visitor restrictions effective Oct. 14.
COVID-19 vaccine clinics are from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, at Bothwell Healing Arts Center, second floor, and from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, at Bothwell Truman Lake in Warsaw. Bothwell is administering the initial two-dose series and third and booster doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to eligible people.
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.
Visit www.brhc.org/vaccine for all clinic locations, dates and eligibility information for booster and third doses. This year’s flu vaccine is available at all COVID-19 vaccine clinics.
The state-run Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Center located at Bothwell will end Saturday, Oct. 23. The center offers treatment for people with a positive COVIDd-19 result and who have had onset of symptoms within the last 10 days and is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. People may call the center’s referral number at 660.829.6647 to be screened for potential treatment that can prevent severe illness and hospitalization. There is no cost for this treatment. People who have had a high-risk exposure to a COVID-19 positive person should speak with their provider about receiving treatment since they may also be eligible.
Bothwell offers drive-thru COVID-19 testing at its Healing Arts Center at 3700 W. 10th St. in Sedalia. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. People must register before arriving at the testing location by calling 660-827-7900.
Katy Trail Community Health is offering free vaccine and free testing at its Sedalia site. The vaccine is also available at 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.
