Pettis County added 189 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 8,260, 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 11.1% for the past seven days, which is a decrease from 14.5% for the previous week with PCR testing,” the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force briefing stated on Monday. “The locally calculated positivity rate for the week of Dec. 8-14 was 12.6%. The case count per 100,000 for this time period is 347/100,000. This week there were 874 PCR tests and 552 antigen tests for a total of 1426. Last week there were 1,034 tests.”
According to the Pettis County Health Center, the groups with the highest number of new cases were 5-12-year-olds with 24 and 25-29 with 16. There were 46 individuals birth to 18 with positive cases reported in the week time period. So far in December, there have been 111 positive cases reported in children 0-18 or 27.07%.
“Vaccine breakthrough rate for the week of Dec. 13-19 was 22 out of 164 cases who were fully vaccinated for a rate of 13.4% vaccinated and 86.6% not vaccinated,” the briefing said. “April with seven was the most common month of last vaccination. There were four people who had received a booster and three individuals were partially vaccinated.”
Thus far this season there have been 74 Pettis County residents with reported cases of influenza. During the entire 2020-21 influenza season there were less than 10 reported cases.
As of Friday, there were 1,914 hospitalized in Missouri with COVID as compared to 1,460 hospitalized with COVID last week. There are 481 people in ICU and 246 on ventilators as compared to 343 people in ICU and 170 on ventilators last week.
The most recent sewer shed data indicates a new spike in Sedalia North district and elevations in the Southeast. The most recent data indicated 100% of all samples are Delta.
The Omicron variant has been identified in sewer shed data from the Kansas City area. When the Delta variant appeared, it took about four to six weeks before appearing in Sedalia. The Omicron virus is moving much more quickly and will probably be present in the next one to two testing reports.
There are 12 individuals hospitalized at Bothwell Regional Health Center as compared to 14 last week. There are four patients on a ventilator. Ten of 12 patients were not vaccinated. All inpatients will be tested upon admission.
The DHSS website reports 110 deaths in Pettis County with a confirmed PCR test and 18 deaths with a positive antigen test. The number of COVID cases in the Kansas City region is once again making finding a place for people needing a referral to a larger hospital increasingly difficult. The staffing shortages seen last fall and winter are happening again as Omicron spreads.
Approximately 45.1% of the population of Pettis County residents have started vaccination. According to the state website, 19,081 Pettis County residents have started vaccination and 17,029 are considered fully vaccinated which is approximately 40.2% of the population. Pettis County is falling behind the state rate of 60% have started vaccination and 53.1% fully vaccinated. The state is reporting 71.1% of the population over 18 has started and 63.5% are fully vaccinated.
For Pettis County, 56.5% of the population 18 and over have started vaccination (17,026) and 50.8% (16,195) are fully vaccinated. According to the DHSS website, 13.9% (1,052) of 5-17-year-olds have started vaccination and 11% (833) are fully vaccinated. For the 65 and older age group, 78.1% (5,657) have started vaccination and 71.3% (5,164) are considered fully vaccinated.
The vaccine is available for everyone 5 years of age and older. Booster doses given six months after the last dose for Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or two months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are available for those 16 years and older through local pharmacies, Pettis County Health Center, Katy Trail Community Health and Bothwell Regional 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, from 8:30 a.m. to noon Thursdays and from noon to 3 p.m. Fridays. The Health Center closes at 2 p.m. Dec. 23 and is closed Dec. 24 and 31.
Following new federal guidance, DHSS issued updated orders that expand recommendations for Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots for 16- and 17-year-olds who received a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least six months after their second dose. The booster dose of the Moderna vaccine is recommended for adults 18 years and older at least six months after their second dose.
Preliminary data shows the currently authorized Moderna COVID-19 booster can boost neutralizing antibody levels 37-fold higher against the Omicron variant than pre-boost levels. Similar data is being reported by Pfizer-BioNTech for its vaccine booster.
This week’s COVID-19 vaccine clinic for the two-dose primary series and booster doses is from 2 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23 (Pfizer) at Bothwell Health Center-Truman Lake in Warsaw. People may walk in; however, appointments are encouraged by calling 660-829-8888.
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 Pfizer vaccine is available for children aged 5 to 11. People who want the vaccine for their child in that age group can make appointments at Bothwell TLC Pediatrics from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling 660-829-5852 or 660-829-8888 or at Bothwell Health Center-Truman Lake in Warsaw from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays by calling 660-438-6800.
Monoclonal antibody infusion treatment is available 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 660-829-8830 to be screened for potential treatment.
The infusion treatment is administered on the hospital’s third floor from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday by members of the Missouri Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT). There is no charge for this treatment when administered by DMAT.
All Bothwell clinics will be closed Dec. 25 for Christmas Day so staff can spend the holiday with their families. All clinics, except Bothwell walk-in Clinic, will also be closed Dec. 24 for Christmas Eve, Dec. 31 for New Year’s Eve and Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day.
The walk-in clinic will be open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 24 and 31 and open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 1. The walk-in clinic’s holiday hours are subject to change due to staffing issues related to COVID-19. Call the clinic at 660-827-7900 before visiting.
COVId-19 testing is offered at the walk-in clinic. People must register for a testing appointment by calling 660-827-7900. 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.
All clinics will resume regular hours on Jan. 3. The Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Katy Trail Community Health is providing vaccines to current patients at all locations by appointment. Community vaccines are offered at 816 Westwood Drive in Sedalia from 1 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays and from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Fridays. Register for a Family Vaccine Clinic at www.katytrailcommunityhealth.org.
