Butler County saw its biggest spike in new positive tests for COVID-19 to date as health officials announced six new cases of the virus Monday, a day after five were reported.
The state is scheduled to fully reopen Tuesday, and enter Phase 2 of the Show Me Strong Recovery plan. During Phase 2, there will be no statewide health order. All statewide restrictions will be lifted, though local officials will still have the authority to put further rules, regulations, or ordinances in place.
The total number of reported cases in Butler County since March 31 is now 65, up from 50 a week ago.
“Everybody has been contacted and is in self isolation,” said Emily Goodin, Butler County Health Department administrator.
The health department will continue testing this week with rapid tests that can have results in 15 minutes. Goodin said around 85-90 tests were administered and sent to labs over three days last week.
The majority of the 11 new positive tests came from other testing sites, Goodin said.
Ripley, Carter and Stoddard counties also held testing events last week.
Carter County announced a new positive test Monday and said that person is currently hospitalized.
“This patient was not associated with the testing event done on (Thursday),” the Carter County Health Center said in a release.
It’s the first reported case of the virus in Carter County since May 22 and the sixth overall.
Stoddard County reported two new cases Monday. Health officials there report that there are 36 active cases of the virus out of the 117 reported to date.
Eight people have died from the virus in Stoddard County and are among the 880 reported deaths by the state.
Missouri health officials reported 206 new cases Monday as the total surpassed 16,000. The seven-day average for new cases statewide remained above 200 a day before Gov. Mike Parson’s order is set to expire.
“We are going along with the governor’s orders,” Goodin said of Butler County.
If an organization or business wants to keep restrictions in place for the safety of their employees and customers, Goodin said, “by all means we’re going to support them.”
Butler County’s six new cases Monday were the most reported in a single day since five new cases were announced April 10. Since then, there have only been four days with more than two cases reported in any single day.
Among the new cases, the majority are under the age of 40. Health officials reported the county’s first two cases for someone under the age of 20 while four were in their 20s.
Of the 65 total reported cases, 45 have been 50 or older (69.2%). Statewide, 49.7% of total cases have been age 50 or older but in mid April that number was 55.8%.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the death rates for COVID-19 patients with chronic illnesses are 12 times higher than others who become infected.
Among patients with heart-related disease, diabetes and chronic lung disease, including asthma and emphysema, about 20% died compared with almost 2% who were otherwise healthy, the Associated Press reported. They were also six times more likely to be hospitalized than those without chronic illnesses.