Five more new cases bring total to 33
June 19, 2020
Sheila Harris
The Barry County Health Department is reporting five additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of
cases to thirty-three. All five cases are the result of community spread; three of the new cases had been in
quarantine due to being a close contact of a previous positive case. The other two cases are unrelated to earlier
cases. All five new cases are now under an isolation order by the Barry County Health Department and will be
monitored daily.
Barry County has seen a significant increase in COVID-19 positive tests during the last week. The increased number
of cases are likely related to several factors, including: reduction Phase 1 restrictions, disease hot spots in
neighboring Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri counties, and an increase in large gatherings.
Roger Brock, Administrator of the Barry County Health Department and David Compton, Director of the Barry
County Office of Emergency Management discussed the recent surge of COVID-19 cases.
“It is concerning that we have tripled the number of cases in the last seven days. We have seen several new cases every day this week and currently there are over 50 people in either isolation or quarantine,” said Brock.
Suggesting potential strategies, Compton noted, “Our goal to avoid returning to additional restrictions is best accomplished by taking personal responsibility and that means we must continue physical distancing, wearing cloth face coverings, and frequently washing hands and cleaning surfaces.”
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath or at least two of the following: fever, chills,
repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell. Symptoms may
begin two days to two weeks after exposure. Your physician can order testing or you can call the Barry County
Health Department at 417-847-2114 to discuss testing.
State of Missouri and Barry County Phase 2 Reopening began June 16 and remains in effect until June 30, 2020.
Those rules include recommendations to maintain physical distancing, required source-control masking in certain
circumstances, and enhanced hygiene practices. Persons at a higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 including
those greater 65 years of age, who are immuno-compromised, or have chronic medical conditions should limit
travel and wear a cloth face covering in public. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extraprecautions/
groups-at-higher-risk.html)
Sheila Harris
The Barry County Health Department is reporting five additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of
cases to thirty-three. All five cases are the result of community spread; three of the new cases had been in
quarantine due to being a close contact of a previous positive case. The other two cases are unrelated to earlier
cases. All five new cases are now under an isolation order by the Barry County Health Department and will be
monitored daily.
Barry County has seen a significant increase in COVID-19 positive tests during the last week. The increased number
of cases are likely related to several factors, including: reduction Phase 1 restrictions, disease hot spots in
neighboring Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri counties, and an increase in large gatherings.
Roger Brock, Administrator of the Barry County Health Department and David Compton, Director of the Barry
County Office of Emergency Management discussed the recent surge of COVID-19 cases.
“It is concerning that we have tripled the number of cases in the last seven days. We have seen several new cases every day this week and currently there are over 50 people in either isolation or quarantine,” said Brock.
Suggesting potential strategies, Compton noted, “Our goal to avoid returning to additional restrictions is best accomplished by taking personal responsibility and that means we must continue physical distancing, wearing cloth face coverings, and frequently washing hands and cleaning surfaces.”
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath or at least two of the following: fever, chills,
repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell. Symptoms may
begin two days to two weeks after exposure. Your physician can order testing or you can call the Barry County
Health Department at 417-847-2114 to discuss testing.
State of Missouri and Barry County Phase 2 Reopening began June 16 and remains in effect until June 30, 2020.
Those rules include recommendations to maintain physical distancing, required source-control masking in certain
circumstances, and enhanced hygiene practices. Persons at a higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 including
those greater 65 years of age, who are immuno-compromised, or have chronic medical conditions should limit
travel and wear a cloth face covering in public. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extraprecautions/
groups-at-higher-risk.html)