Wayne County health officials announced Thursday night that a person tested positive for COVID-19, the first in a county that was one of only three in Missouri without a confirmed case.
The Wayne County Health Center said it was working with the patient to identify close contacts in order to monitor them for symptoms and contain spread.
“If you are identified as a potentially exposed person, you will be contacted by the Wayne County Health Center,” officials said in a statement.
The person’s identity will “remain confidential” health officials said, and no other information will be released.
“We highly encourage if you suspect that you have COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, call your health care provider before seeking care,” health officials said.
Hickory County, located north of Springfield, and Ozark County on the Arkansas border are the only Missouri counties without a confirmed case of the virus.
Carter County health officials reported that 113 people were tested during an event last week and that one person from another county tested positive.
Butler County health officials announced four new positive tests Thursday to bring the total number of cases to 71. There have been 17 new confirmed cases since Sunday.
Dunklin County’s total reached 73 on Thursday while Stoddard County announced a new case, bringing its total to 122.
Statewide, health officials reported more than 200 new cases of the virus for the fourth straight day as the seven-day average reached 217. The total number of positive tests in Missouri will likely surpass 17,000 Friday.
There have been 946 deaths associated with COVID-19 after 64 were reported over the last two days. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said there was a delay in reporting from a jurisdiction and that the 37 deaths included some from before the last 24 hours.