Butler County offers help with recent Stoddard County coronavirus cases

Butler County officials have reached out to Stoddard County to see if it needs assistance with recent cases of COVID-19 at a facility.

"It seems they've been able to handle it well as far as isolating and testing and getting on top of that in one facility," Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers said. "I think that's the kind of model we'd like to see (in Butler County) if we have something like that here. We hope we don't have, but from what we've seen so far from our neighbors, they handled that situation as best as it can be handled from everything we've heard so far."

As of Friday afternoon, Stoddard County has reported 10 positive cases since May 10, increasing its total from 24 to 34.

Johnna Craft, Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center director of risk management and facilities compliance officer, said those patients needing hospitalization are being sent to multiple facilities.

"We won't get the full influx from them," Craft said.

Butler County remains at 27 cases. Its only positive case since April 26 was reported on May 12.

Butler County Health Department administrator Emily Goodin said that patient recently tested negative and has tested negative multiple times. While it may be a false positive case, the health department is required to report it as a positive case to the state.

The health department also completed its week of using a RAPID testing machine, including the 70 tests it was issued by the state, with all tests performed as of 2 p.m. Friday being negative.

"So far, that has gone really well. We are sharing this machine with Dunklin County, and we hope to get it back the day after Memorial Day, assuming we have testing cartridges. It is still unclear when or if we are going to get more testing kits," Goodin said during Friday's emergency management meeting with area officials.

In the same meeting, Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff CEO Chris Rushin announced that in conjunction with Poplar Bluff R-1 School District and Chartwells, they have handed out more than 300,000 grab-and-go meals to area kids.

That meal program will continue through June.

The Boys & Girls Club also plans to hold its summer learning program starting June 8, and additional information and applications are on the club's website at bgcpb.org.

Rushin said the camp will run from Monday through Thursday, with a deep clean performed each Friday, until July 2.

"Due to social distancing restrictions, the 2020 summer learning program is by invite only," the club's website says.