Pettis County added 632 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 9,684, 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 30.5% for the past seven days, which is an increase from 25.5% for the previous week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Tuesday. “The case count per 100,000 for the past seven days is 864/100,000. This week there were 1,225 PCR tests and 816 antigen tests for a total of 2,041. Last week there were 1,718 tests.”
The case counts by age will be posted on the Pettis County Health Center Facebook page and website.
Due to the high number of cases, the vaccine breakthrough information is not available this week.
Influenza cases continue to increase. There are approximately 430 cases for the season thus far. The information is still being received. During the entire 2020-21 influenza season, there were less than 10 reported cases.
As of Friday, there were 3,507 hospitalized in Missouri with COVID as compared to 3,202 hospitalized with COVID last week. There are 658 people in ICU as compared to 641 people in ICU last week. The number on ventilators was not available.
There are 19 individuals hospitalized at Bothwell Regional Health Center as compared to 15 last week. There are two patients on a ventilator. Seventy-four percent of the patients were not vaccinated. All inpatients will be tested upon admission.
The DHSS website reports 113 deaths in Pettis County with a confirmed PCR test and 19 deaths with a positive antigen test. This is an increase of one since last week. The Health Center received reports of four Pettis County residents who died in the last two weeks.
Approximately 46.4% of the population of Pettis County residents have started vaccination. According to the state website, 19,634 Pettis County residents have started vaccination and 17,448 are considered fully vaccinated, which is approximately 41.2% of the population. Pettis County is falling behind the state rate of 61.9% who have started vaccination and 54.6% fully vaccinated. The state is reporting 72.9% of the population over 18 has started and 64.3% are fully vaccinated. For Pettis County, 57.8% of the population 18 and older have started vaccination (18,451) and 51.8% (16,516) are considered fully vaccinated. According to the DHSS website, 15.6% (1,180) of 5-17-year-olds have started vaccination and 12.3% (931) are fully vaccinated. For the 65 and older age group, 79.2% (5739) have started vaccination and 72.1% (5,223) are considered fully vaccinated.
The vaccine is available for everyone 5 years of age and older. Booster doses are given five months after the last dose for Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or two months after the Johnson & Johnson. Vaccines are available for those 12 years and older through the Health Center, Katy Trail Community Health and Bothwell. All vaccines are free.
Pettis County Health Center provides vaccines for homebound individuals. Call 660-827-1130 to make arrangements.
The Health Center has regular walk-in clinics from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, from 8:30 a.m. to noon Thursdays and from noon to 3 p.m. Fridays.
Bothwell has established a centralized COVID-19 outpatient management clinic to coordinate the complex clinical situation and add additional capacity to evaluate patients quickly. Dr. Gregory Doak is the practicing physician in this clinic, which is located on the third floor of the Bothwell Healing Arts Center.
The new outpatient treatments are only for patients with a confirmed positive COVID-19 test. Patients who test positive need a referral from a local physician to the centralized COVID-19 outpatient management clinic. Don’t wait to contact your provider after testing positive because two of the four medications are required to be given within five days of onset of symptoms. Patients will no longer be able to self-refer for infusions by calling the hospital.
If you are concerned you have COVID-19, know where to go for testing and care. For mild or moderate symptoms (fever, cough, tiredness, sore throat, loss of taste or smell or headache), contact your primary care provider for care (open Monday through Friday) or visit the Bothwell Walk-In Clinic, 3700 W. 10th St., from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. For specific testing hours and instructions, visit www.brhc.org. Due to high demand and staffing shortages, the Walk-In Clinic is currently experiencing longer wait times.
For severe symptoms (shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain, loss of speech or mobility, confusion, high fever, or inability to eat or drink), go to the Emergency Department.
Do not visit the ED for COVID-19 testing if you have mild symptoms or only need a test for work, school or travel.
The wait time for results from standard PCR COVID-19 tests has been extended to four or five days as Bothwell is now sending these tests to an external lab due to widespread supply shortages. If a standard PCR test is not needed, a rapid antigen test, anticipated to be available by Friday, will be done at Bothwell testing locations.
This week’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics for the two-dose primary series and booster doses are from 2 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19 (Pfizer) and from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21 (Moderna) at Bothwell Healing Arts Center on the second floor. 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.
This year’s flu vaccine is available at all Bothwell COVID-19 vaccine clinics. All flu vaccines are quadrivalent (four-component) meaning they are designed to protect against four different flu viruses, and flu vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time.
Katy Trail Community Health is providing vaccines to current patients at all its locations by appointment. Community vaccines are at 816 Westwood Drive in Sedalia for all family members from 1 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday, and Saturday appointments are available.
