Grundy County Has Third COVID-19 Case

Grundy County has its third positive case of COVID-19.
The case was reported over the weekend by the Grundy County Health Department, which said the individual is isolated in their home. Health department officials are in the process of identifying and communicating with persons who may have come into close contact with that individual.
The case is not related to Saturday’s (May 30) drive-through testing event, which saw 137 individuals tested for COVID-19. Those tested will be notified of their status within the next few days. Assisting the health department with the testing event were Wright Memorial Hospital, Mosaic Life Care, the Mercer County Health Department, Grundy County Emergency Management, the Community Emergency Response Team, the Trenton Police Department, the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the Missouri National Guard and several local volunteers.
Gov. Mike Parson has extended Phase I of the state public health order to Monday, June 15. Provisions of the order include requirements for individuals and businesses to maintain social distancing of six feet or greater; restricted visitation to nursing homes or long-term care facilities; retail businesses limiting the number of shoppers based on square footage; and restaurant dining areas observing social distancing requirements. The full text of the governor’s renewed order can be found at www.showmestrong.mo.gov.
The health department will not extend the county public health order and guidance for Grundy County. However, health department officials remind residents that social distancing, good handwashing practices and use of face coverings in public areas are still needed to slow the spread of COVID-19. Persons who are ill are asked to stay home, except to seek medical care.
As of Monday morning, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports 13,147 cases of COVID-19 in the state, with 771 deaths. Nationwide, the death rate is over 102,000.
Mercer County reported its first COVID-19 positive test on Friday. According to the Mercer County Health Department, the case was identified by a test conducted by a private laboratory out of the county. Health department officials are working to determine and identify close contacts of the individual so that they may be contacted for further instruction.
Harrison County had three more positive cases reported, with two of the cases identified from testing done in another state and reported back to the county over the weekend. Harrison County had a total of 12 positive cases as of Monday morning.
Other area county case numbers (as of Monday morning) include Sullivan, 59; Linn, 9; Carroll, 8; Caldwell, 5; Daviess, 4; Livingston, 3; and Putnam, 0.
Wright Memorial Hospital and Hedrick Medical Center continue COVID-19 testing efforts and as of Monday morning had tested 1,071 individuals.
WMH tests totalled 295, including 209 from Grundy County, 48 from Mercer County and 38 from other counties. HMC has tested 776, including 455 from Livingston County, 115 from Grundy County, 22 from Mercer County and 184 from other counties.
All Saint Luke’s Health System hospitals who are admitting patients, including WMH and HMC, are testing for COVID-19. This includes patients admitted for observation as well as those fully admitted as inpatients. WMH and HMC patients scheduled for a surgery or procedure are being tested at the drive-through clinic in Chillicothe (1100 Washington St.) at least 48 to 72 hours prior to the procedure.