Pettis County added 67 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 8.8% for the past seven days, which is an increase from 5.7% for the last week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Monday. “The locally calculated positivity rate for the week of Oct. 22-28, which includes both PCR and antigen tests, is 8.26%. This week there were 501 PCR tests and 308 antigen tests for a total of 809. Last week there were 747 tests.”
According to the Pettis County Health Center, from Oct. 22-28, the groups with the highest number of new cases were 13-18-year-olds with eight and 40-44-year-olds with seven. There were 116 individuals birth to 18 with positive cases reported in the time period. Since July 1, 21.54% of total cases are in individuals 0-18 years of age.
“Vaccine breakthrough rates for the week of Oct. 25-31 is 12 out of 69 or 17.3% or 82.7% not vaccinated,” the briefing said. “There were three cases each in February, March, April and August. There were positive cases in two partially vaccinated individuals.”
As of Friday, there were 1,047 hospitalized in Missouri as compared to 1,038 hospitalized with COVID last week. There are 262 people in ICU and 177 on ventilators as compared to 269 people in ICU and 174 on ventilators last week.
There are three individuals hospitalized at Bothwell Regional Health Center as compared to eight last week. There are zero patients on a ventilator, which is an improvement.
Approximately 42.6% of the population of Pettis County residents have started vaccination. According to the state website, 18,016 Pettis County residents have started vaccination and 16,213 are considered fully vaccinated, which is approximately 38.3% of the population. The state is reporting 66.7% of the population over 18 has started and 59.6% are fully vaccinated.
For Pettis County 53.8% of the population over 18 have started vaccination (17,172) and 48.6% (15,506) are fully vaccinated. According to the DHSS website, 24.1% (842) of 12-17-year-olds have started vaccination and 20.2% (706) are fully vaccinated. For the 65+ age group, 74.2 and (5,375) have started vaccination and 68.4% (4,958) are considered 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.
A booster dose of the Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson 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.
Beginning Saturday, Nov. 6, Saturday hours for COVID-19 testing at Bothwell Walk-In Clinic at 3700 W. 10th St. will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday hours remain at 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 5 p.m.
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.
Bothwell provides 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.
People meeting those conditions should call the Bothwell infusion center at 660-829-8830 to be screened for potential treatment. People who have been in close contact with a COVID-positive person should contact their provider to receive a referral for treatment.
The infusion treatment is administered on the hospital’s second floor from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The medication is free, and an administration fee will be charged.
This week’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics are from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3 (Pfizer) and from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5 (Moderna) at Bothwell Healing Arts Center, 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. There is no charge for the vaccine.
Katy Trail Community Health is offering free vaccine and free testing at its Sedalia site. The vaccine is 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.
