County COVID-19 numbers rise sharply
June 23
Sheila Harris
The number of new cases of COVID-19 in Barry County has increased exponentially in the past two weeks.
Nineteen new cases were reported by the Barry County Health Department for the reporting-week ending June 9, followed by an additional 29 cases on June 16 and 36 more on June 22.
Perhaps more telling is the positivity rate, a number which increased from 4.49 percent positivity on June 9 to 21.17 percent on June 16. The positivity rate for the current week is 32.14 percent.
CoxHealth Media Spokesperson, Kaitlyn McConnell says the number of patients requiring hospitalization from COVID-19 complications has risen as well.
“We hit 88 patients in our hospitals at one point (Monday),” she said, “including a patient in Cox Monett.”
On June 18, CoxHealth had 79 COVID patients, a number which represented a five-fold increase, according to McConnell.
McConnell said the the rise in numbers can be attributed to a variety of factors. One factor, she says, is because the vaccination rate in lower in southwest Missouri than in other parts of the country.
The Barry County Health Department reports a 31.2 percent vaccination rate as of June 22 for residents of the county. This percentage is lower than the cumulative Missouri state average of a little over 44 percent, and much lower than states along the west coast and many states in the northeast, which have achieved a vaccination rate of well over 60 percent.
“We have seen the success of vaccination firsthand at Cox,” McConnell said. “While the vaccine isn’t perfect, we have seen very few people requiring hospitalization who have been vaccinated. Having the vaccine helps the patient from becoming ill, and it offers nearly 100 percent protection from dying (from COVID).”
McConnell says another factor causing an increase in COVID cases in our area is the Delta variant, which caused 90 percent of new cases in Greene County last week.
“Although Cassville is not in Greene County, we believe the increase in Greene County is an indication of what is likely happening in other parts of our area,” she said.
The Delta variant, McConnell said, is more infectious and seems to hit younger ages far harder than the other strains have done in the past, and also seems to cause more severe outcomes.
McConnell said due to the increase in hospitalizations, there may be times they will need to send patients out of the area, as they did last week.
“This won’t always be the case,” she said, “but due to staffing availability and the increase in patients, periodically we may need to send patients to Kansas City or St. Louis.”
McConnell’s ultimate message is to encourage people to be vaccinated.
“Anyone who would like a vaccination may schedule one with Cox by calling 417-269-INFO,” she said. “They are free to patients.”
The Barry County Health Department is hosting a vaccination clinic at their offices at 65 Main Street, Cassville, on Saturday, June 26, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Residents may call 417-847-2114 to schedule an appointment.
Sheila Harris
The number of new cases of COVID-19 in Barry County has increased exponentially in the past two weeks.
Nineteen new cases were reported by the Barry County Health Department for the reporting-week ending June 9, followed by an additional 29 cases on June 16 and 36 more on June 22.
Perhaps more telling is the positivity rate, a number which increased from 4.49 percent positivity on June 9 to 21.17 percent on June 16. The positivity rate for the current week is 32.14 percent.
CoxHealth Media Spokesperson, Kaitlyn McConnell says the number of patients requiring hospitalization from COVID-19 complications has risen as well.
“We hit 88 patients in our hospitals at one point (Monday),” she said, “including a patient in Cox Monett.”
On June 18, CoxHealth had 79 COVID patients, a number which represented a five-fold increase, according to McConnell.
McConnell said the the rise in numbers can be attributed to a variety of factors. One factor, she says, is because the vaccination rate in lower in southwest Missouri than in other parts of the country.
The Barry County Health Department reports a 31.2 percent vaccination rate as of June 22 for residents of the county. This percentage is lower than the cumulative Missouri state average of a little over 44 percent, and much lower than states along the west coast and many states in the northeast, which have achieved a vaccination rate of well over 60 percent.
“We have seen the success of vaccination firsthand at Cox,” McConnell said. “While the vaccine isn’t perfect, we have seen very few people requiring hospitalization who have been vaccinated. Having the vaccine helps the patient from becoming ill, and it offers nearly 100 percent protection from dying (from COVID).”
McConnell says another factor causing an increase in COVID cases in our area is the Delta variant, which caused 90 percent of new cases in Greene County last week.
“Although Cassville is not in Greene County, we believe the increase in Greene County is an indication of what is likely happening in other parts of our area,” she said.
The Delta variant, McConnell said, is more infectious and seems to hit younger ages far harder than the other strains have done in the past, and also seems to cause more severe outcomes.
McConnell said due to the increase in hospitalizations, there may be times they will need to send patients out of the area, as they did last week.
“This won’t always be the case,” she said, “but due to staffing availability and the increase in patients, periodically we may need to send patients to Kansas City or St. Louis.”
McConnell’s ultimate message is to encourage people to be vaccinated.
“Anyone who would like a vaccination may schedule one with Cox by calling 417-269-INFO,” she said. “They are free to patients.”
The Barry County Health Department is hosting a vaccination clinic at their offices at 65 Main Street, Cassville, on Saturday, June 26, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Residents may call 417-847-2114 to schedule an appointment.
