COVID-19 cuts broad swath
October 14, 2020
Sheila Harris
The COVID-19 virus is closer to home. While some Barry County residents assert that COVID-19 “wasn’t that bad,” others have been hospitalized with severe complications.
On October 9, the Barry County Health Department reported a seventh death related to COVID-19 complications. The victim was an 83-year-old gentleman with underlying health issues.
On October 14, the death of an eighth person was reported by the health department, a gentleman with underlying health conditions who was a resident of a residential care facility.
The Barry County Health Department also reports locations of possible exposure to the virus. On October 5, a person who tested positive for COVID-19 visited State Farm Insurance on Kyler Street in Monett, as well as Game Commander in Monett on October 2.
Burger King in Monett has chosen to close temporarily after three of their employees tested positive for the virus. Re-opening plans will be announced at a later date.
The October 14 situational update from the Barry County Health Department reports a total of 716 cases of COVID-19, with 97 cases currently active. Four hundred, fifty-five people who have been in close contact with positive cases are in quarantine.
Employers with additional positive cases among employees are EFCO, with 12; Tyson’s, with 10; IDF, with nine; Schreiber, with five; Friend Tire, with seven; and Coast to Coast, with three.
New on the list of businesses with positive cases of COVID-19 is Roaring River Health and Rehab, a residential care facility in Cassville.
The Cassville R-IV School District is also facing a challenge. According to Dr. Richard Asbill, three more high school students tested positive for the virus on October 13, bringing the total number of active cases within the district to 12. The total number of school-related quarantines in the Cassville R-IV district stands at 249 as of October 14, a number which represents 11.77 percent of the district population.
In Exeter R-VI School District, Dr. Ernest Rainey reported zero active cases of school-related COVID-19 and zero school-related quarantines.
Purdy R-II superintendent, Mindi Gates, says the district currenly has no positive active cases. In the past, they’ve had three students test positive and 16 school-related quarantines. They currently have only one student in quarantine for a non-school-related exposure.
“We’re thankful for our relatively low numbers,” Gates said, “but we’re just taking one day at a time.”
No information was received from Wheaton and Southwest Schools by press time.
In Lawrence County, the health department announced nine additional deaths due to COVID-19 last week. All were associated with long-term care facilities. Their total number of deaths now stands at 15.
As of October 7, the Lawrence County Health Department reported a total number of 824 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
According to Amanda Hedgepeth, CoxHealth’s Vice President of Hospital Operations, as quoted in a Ky3 article, Cox South in Springfield hit their high water mark - so far - over the weekend, with 90 COVID-19 patients in the hospital. The hospital is currently constructing a new temporary urgent care unit to facilitate an expected rise in numbers with flu season approaching.
The Barry County Health Department and Office of Emergency Management remind citizens to take personal responsibility for the welfare of themselves and others by maintaining a social distance of six feet, frequently washing hands and wearing a face-covering in public.
Barry County Phase 2 mitigation rules remain in effect through December 31, which include the required wearing of face-coverings by service providers.
The COVID-19 virus is closer to home. While some Barry County residents assert that COVID-19 “wasn’t that bad,” others have been hospitalized with severe complications.
On October 9, the Barry County Health Department reported a seventh death related to COVID-19 complications. The victim was an 83-year-old gentleman with underlying health issues.
On October 14, the death of an eighth person was reported by the health department, a gentleman with underlying health conditions who was a resident of a residential care facility.
The Barry County Health Department also reports locations of possible exposure to the virus. On October 5, a person who tested positive for COVID-19 visited State Farm Insurance on Kyler Street in Monett, as well as Game Commander in Monett on October 2.
Burger King in Monett has chosen to close temporarily after three of their employees tested positive for the virus. Re-opening plans will be announced at a later date.
The October 14 situational update from the Barry County Health Department reports a total of 716 cases of COVID-19, with 97 cases currently active. Four hundred, fifty-five people who have been in close contact with positive cases are in quarantine.
Employers with additional positive cases among employees are EFCO, with 12; Tyson’s, with 10; IDF, with nine; Schreiber, with five; Friend Tire, with seven; and Coast to Coast, with three.
New on the list of businesses with positive cases of COVID-19 is Roaring River Health and Rehab, a residential care facility in Cassville.
The Cassville R-IV School District is also facing a challenge. According to Dr. Richard Asbill, three more high school students tested positive for the virus on October 13, bringing the total number of active cases within the district to 12. The total number of school-related quarantines in the Cassville R-IV district stands at 249 as of October 14, a number which represents 11.77 percent of the district population.
In Exeter R-VI School District, Dr. Ernest Rainey reported zero active cases of school-related COVID-19 and zero school-related quarantines.
Purdy R-II superintendent, Mindi Gates, says the district currenly has no positive active cases. In the past, they’ve had three students test positive and 16 school-related quarantines. They currently have only one student in quarantine for a non-school-related exposure.
“We’re thankful for our relatively low numbers,” Gates said, “but we’re just taking one day at a time.”
No information was received from Wheaton and Southwest Schools by press time.
In Lawrence County, the health department announced nine additional deaths due to COVID-19 last week. All were associated with long-term care facilities. Their total number of deaths now stands at 15.
As of October 7, the Lawrence County Health Department reported a total number of 824 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
According to Amanda Hedgepeth, CoxHealth’s Vice President of Hospital Operations, as quoted in a Ky3 article, Cox South in Springfield hit their high water mark - so far - over the weekend, with 90 COVID-19 patients in the hospital. The hospital is currently constructing a new temporary urgent care unit to facilitate an expected rise in numbers with flu season approaching.
The Barry County Health Department and Office of Emergency Management remind citizens to take personal responsibility for the welfare of themselves and others by maintaining a social distance of six feet, frequently washing hands and wearing a face-covering in public.
Barry County Phase 2 mitigation rules remain in effect through December 31, which include the required wearing of face-coverings by service providers.
