Pettis County added 84 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 7,235, according to the Pettis County Health Center.
In the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing issued Tuesday, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website is reporting Pettis County has a positivity rate of 8.6% for the past seven days, which is a decrease from 11.2% for the last week with PCR testing. This week there were 618 PCR tests and 391 antigen tests for a total of 1,009. Last week there were 907 tests. The case count for September was 520, which is an improvement from 715 in August. The positivity rate for September was 11.89%.
According to the Pettis County Health Center, for the time period Oct. 1-7, the groups with the highest number of new cases were 13-18-year-olds with 10 and 35-39-year-olds with eight. There were 19 individuals birth to 18 with positive cases reported in the time period. Since July 1, 21.51% (same as last week) or 421 of total cases are in individuals 0-18 years of age.
For the period Oct. 4-10, there were 80 positive tests reported and 12 were fully vaccinated for a breakthrough rate of 15%, which leaves an unvaccinated rate of 85%. Most of the breakthrough cases received the Pfizer vaccine. The month of last vaccination for the highest number of cases was February with seven followed by March with three and April and July with one each.
As of Friday, there were 920 hospitalized in Missouri with COVID as compared to 1,420 last week. There are 241 people in ICU and 176 on ventilators as compared to 367 people in ICU and 252 on ventilators last week.
The briefing stated the sewer shed data from Oct. 4 indicated an elevated viral load in the Sedalia Central district. The most recent data indicated 100% of all samples are from the delta variant.
According to the briefing, there are nine individuals hospitalized at Bothwell Regional Health Center as compared to eight last week; the age range is 45-86. There is one patient on a ventilator, the same as last week. The ventilator patient was not vaccinated.
The DHSS website now reports 100 deaths in Pettis County, up from 99 last week.
Approximately 41.6% of the population of Pettis County residents have started vaccination. According to the state website, 17,603 Pettis County residents have started vaccination and 15,732 are considered fully vaccinated, which is approximately 37.2% of the population.
The briefing states Pettis County is falling behind the state rate: 54.4% have started vaccination and 48.4% fully vaccinated. The state is reporting 65.9% of the population over 18 has started and 58.8% are fully vaccinated. For Pettis County, 52.4% of the population over 18 have started vaccination and 47.2% are fully vaccinated. According to the DHSS website, 23.4% (815) of 12-17-year-olds have started vaccination and 19.3% (674) are fully vaccinated.
The majority of doses of vaccine given last week in Pettis County were third or booster doses of Pfizer. Vaccines are available at AFC Urgent Care, some local pharmacies, at many community events, Katy Trail Community Health, Bothwell Regional Health Center and Pettis County Health Center. All vaccines are free.
Pettis County Health Center has regular walk-in clinics from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m. to noon Thursdays and noon to 3 p.m. Fridays. First doses are available as well as second doses and third/booster doses.
This week’s Bothwell COVID-19 vaccine clinic is from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, at Bothwell Healing Arts Center, second floor. Bothwell is administering the initial two-dose series and third and booster doses of the Pfizer 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.
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. 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.
The state-run Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Center located on the hospital’s third floor offers treatment for people with a positive COVID-19 result and who have had onset of symptoms within the last 10 days. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday. 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.
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. Current Bothwell patients may register by calling or scheduling their own Covid-19 testing appointment in Bothwell’s patient portal, MyBothwellHealth at www.brhc.org/portal or in the MHealth app.
Only standard PCR tests will be given in drive-thru testing. People with COVID symptoms may see a provider in the Walk In Clinic to see if a rapid test is recommended.
Katy Trail Community Health is offering free vaccine and free testing at its Sedalia site, 821 Westwood Drive. Vaccine is also available at locations in Warsaw, Versailles, and Marshall. For testing, go to www.katytrailcommunityhealth.org.
