Three months mark the first COVID case in Butler County, and the first death

The first day of April saw Butler County’s first COVID-19 case. Schools and cities began trying to prepare for a short stint of precautions. By the end of June, schools had closed their year without returning and Butler County would see its first fatality.

April 1

• Butler County’s first person to test positive for COVID-19, John Goodwin, a healthy man in his 30s, speaks to the Daily American Republic about the extreme toll the illness took, his hospital stay and watching his child crawl for the first time via video chat while in quarantine.

• The city of Poplar Bluff announces playgrounds will close.

• Some area schools extend the COVID closure from early April to late April.

April 2

• Butler County schools extend the COVID closure from April 6 to May 1.

April 4

• Butler County officials discuss a statewide stay-home order issued by the governor. The order is set to run through April 24. The state had reported 19 COVID deaths at that time, with 2,113 cases in Missouri.

April 7

• The first COVID-19 death is reported in the area, a 59-year-old Carter County resident who died in a Springfield hospital and had tested positive March 23.

• Most in-person court proceedings are suspended until May 1.

April 10

• Area superintendents weigh in on an announcement by Gov. Mike Parson to close school for the rest of the school year.

• It is reported that MSHSAA will cancel spring sports.

April 11

• Area businesses and locations offer free Wi-Fi to students as they try remote learning for a five-month COVID break.

April 14

• Officials with Stoddard, Carter and Wayne counties discuss local stay-at-home orders issued by their counties.

• COVID cases reported as of April 3 are: Butler County, 17; Carter County, three; Dunklin County, 16; Reynolds County, two; Ripley County, three; Stoddard County, 11; Missouri, 4,388. Statewide, 114 COVID deaths are reported.

April 16

• Three Rivers College announces all summer classes will be online.

• The second COVID death is reported in the area, in Dunklin County.

April 17

• Gov. Mike Parson announces April 16 that a stay-at-home order will be extended to May 3, with statewide COVID deaths at 152.

April 28

• Local businesses make plans to reopen May 4, with new health and safety guidelines, including occupancy limits and spacing requirements for areas where customers are served.

April 29

• Schools begin to make new plans for graduations and proms, with dates for some postponed until June. Poplar Bluff later announces a possible June 20 prom date and June 23 graduation date.

• Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center announces some elective procedures will resume May 4.

May 1

• Parents in the Poplar Bluff School District begin a program to recognize seniors, who missed the end of their last year of high school during the COVID break.

May 2

• Area restaurants prepare to reopen and discuss how the temporary closures were used to renovate and improve their businesses.

May 13

• Butler County reports its first new COVID cases, the first since April 26. The state had 9,918 cases and 488 deaths as of May 12.

May 23

• The 35th Judicial Circuit announces some in-person court hearings to resume.

• Dental offices reopen.

May 29

• Phase 1 of Missouri’s recovery plan is extended from May 31 to June 15.

June 5

• Butler County courts slow down their reopening after a courthouse employee tests positive for COVID.

• Area counties are tasked with distributing $6 million in COVID relief money.

June 30

• The first COVID fatality is reported in Butler County, a resident of Oakdale Nursing Home Assisted Living. Butler County had 90 positive cases as of the time, with 21,000 in the state. Statewide deaths stood at 998.