COVID tests for essential workers available

Butler County’s nine new cases of coronavirus announced Wednesday brings the total cases to 317.

Amanda Fitzwater, operations director for the Butler County Health Center, announced the numbers during the weekly COVID-19 briefing.

In response to questions from Poplar Bluff Fire Chief Ralph Stucker, Fitzwater said, four Butler County patients are hospitalized with about 50 cases active. Between 224-240 people have recovered.

While the health center’s rapid test schedule for Tuesdays and Thursdays are filled, Fitzwater explained they have kept Monday, Wednesday and Friday open for emergent or essential businesses, like emergency services, school and college personnel, who need a rapid test to return to work or classes.

The health center staff have planned “so essential business people can go back to school or work,” said Fitzwater, who indicated people may call and ask for her or Emily Goodin.

Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center Chief Compliance Officer Johnna Craft explained the hospital numbers are “still high.”

Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers pointed out PBRMC serves a larger regional area.

Craft expressed that PBRMC is in need of masks again since people are coming into the hospital. Anyone interested in helping make masks may call 573-776-9052.

Boys & Girls Club Director Chris Rushin said his organization is training for the opening of school next week.

While the year will start with 375 students in the program, 472 have applied.

Rushin said Poplar Bluff School Superintendent Scott Dill has protocols in place to keep “everybody safe and sound.”

Also attending the phone meeting was Lesley Rone of Sen. Roy Blunt’s office, who talked about the number of complaints about possible disruption of the U.S. Postal Service.

Rone said Blunt is working to get CARES funding totaling $25 billion for the postal service to be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from replacing outdated equipment to overtime pay.