Pettis County added 20 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 12,010, according to the Pettis County Health Center.
A new Centers for Disease and Prevention website is available for tracking COVID-19 data at the county level: covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home. The site is primarily updated on Thursday. The Department of Health and Senior Services site is updated on Friday.
According to the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing issued Monday, the omicron variant is still circulating and the omicron BA2 variant is becoming the dominant variant. The second omicron variant is causing increased cases in Europe and parts of the U.S., particularly in the Eastern U.S.
The vaccine breakthrough for the period March 28-April 10 was 27/61 or 44.2%. Of the positive cases, 14 had received a booster.
As of Friday, there were 458 hospitalized in Missouri with COVID as compared to 477 hospitalized with COVID last week. There are 65 people in ICU as compared to 61 people in ICU last week.
The CDC has released new guidance regarding mask-wearing based on the risk for your county. Pettis County is in the green or low-risk category. The guidance for a low-risk county is as follows: Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if you have symptoms. Wear a mask if you have symptoms, have a positive test or have been exposed to someone who is positive. Wear a mask on public transportation. Anyone should feel comfortable wearing a mask and high-risk individuals should check with their doctor.
There is one individual hospitalized at Bothwell Regional Health Center as compared to four last week. One additional death was reported last week for a total of 160. The briefing states that the CDC website does not have correct information about deaths in Pettis County.
Pettis County Health Center has regular walk-in clinics from 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Tuesdays.
Surgical-grade or higher masks are required to be worn by everyone in public and patient care areas of the Bothwell hospital and clinics regardless of vaccination status. Because Pettis County’s COVID-19 community transmission rate is currently low, hospital visitors may choose to remove their masks while in a patient room if both patient and visitor are fully vaccinated.
People who test positive and have a particularly high risk of progressing to more severe disease need a prescription/order from a local physician for treatment. Contact your health care professional as quickly as possible after testing positive. Two of the medications can only be started within five days of onset of symptoms. People can no longer self-refer for infusions by calling the hospital.
Following recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration and CDC action, the DHSS has said a second booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to all individuals 50 years and older and to moderately to severely immune-compromised individuals 12 years and older. Those who are eligible may receive a second booster dose at least four months after their initial booster dose to increase their protection against severe disease from COVID-19. Adults aged 18 to 49 who received the Johnson & Johnson primary and booster vaccine who are not moderately or severely immunocompromised may receive a booster dose of a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least four months after their last dose.
Katy Trail Community Health has at-home COVID tests for patients and the public at its Westwood Drive and Main Street locations. Vaccines are available on Wednesday and Friday afternoons at 816 Westwood Drive.
