In the hot spot: COVID-19 numbers
rise in southwest Missouri
June 24, 2020
Sheila Harris
According to a recent Joplin Globe article, Joplin’s hospital referral region, which includes southwest Missouri, has emerged as one of the nation’s hotspots for COVID-19 growth.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) said the significant case growth in southwest Missouri is being monitored and special attention is being given to food processing plants that employ many essential workers in the area.
According to the DHSS report, The state’s “box-in” strategy approach is currently being used in the area where the outbreak is impacting citizens residing primarily in McDonald, Jasper, Newton and Barry Counties.
The “box in” strategy for the outbreak involves comprehensive testing, isolating all infected people, locating all contacts of the infected people, and having those contacts self-quarantine for 14 days.
In McDonald County, Tyson Foods has worked with state and local public health officials and arranged for comprehensive testing of all employees, most of whom presented with no symptoms, and also agreed to operate at 60 percent capacity to allow for those with positive results or close contacts of those positive cases to properly isolate or quarantine. Additionally, they are enhancing several infection prevention measures at the facility, including robust cleaning and disinfection practices.
Other clusters of cases in the region are also beingmonitored. DHSS statewide data shows that 310 of the 413 new cases reported to the state from midday June 20-midday June 21 were those of residents of the City of Joplin and McDonald, Jasper and Newton Counties. DHSS is providing contact tracing support for the local public health agencies impacted by the case growth associated with these outbreaks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will also be deploying a team to the area this week to assist state and local health authorities with the epidemiological investigation. This investigation will determine risk factors for the COVID-19 spread in the Missouri counties bordering Arkansas where the outbreak has been ongoing, evaluate role of meat and poultry plant outbreaks in the community spread of infection, estimate prevalence and determine risk factors for COVID-19 spread in the pediatric population and develop a community mitigation plan for the COVID-19 outbreak in those counties.
According to the CDC, there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food. Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread from person-to-person through respiratory droplets.
“We are grateful for our partnerships locally, federally and in neighboring states like Arkansas, that allow all of us to collaborate during these times that public health experts are in great need,” said Dr. Randall Williams, director of DHSS. “It is also important to understand that this is a localized outbreak - not a surge of cases throughout the state - and together, we are responding accordingly.”
At press time, the Barry County Health Department and Office of Emergency Management had reported a total of 36 cases in Barry County - a number which has tripled since June 12 - and the Lawrence County Health Department had reported eight new case.
Most of the recent cases have been a result of community spread.
One person who tested positive visited the following locations on June 15
• The YMCA in Monett from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monett Family Restaurant, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
People who visited those locations on those dates, but who did not have close contact with the individual, are at low risk of contracting COVID-19, but should monitor themselves for symptoms.
One patient who tested positive was an employee of EFCO Corporation in Monett, a subsidiary of Apogee Enterprises.
Vice President of Communications for Apogee, Jeff Huebschen, said, in regard to the positive diagnosis, EFCO is following CDC guidelines for preventing the spread of the virus, including re-configuration of work stations to allow space for social-dstancing. Temperature screenings and the wearing of face-covering are also required.
“The safety of our employees is our priority,” Huebschen said.
More information about EFCO’s COVID-19 safety precautions can be found at apog.com. The Barry County Health Department and Office of Emergency Management attribute the increase in COVID-19 cases in the area to the reduction of Phase 1 restrictions, the increase in large gatherings, and the increase in cases in neighboring counties.
“Our goal,” Emergency Management Director, David Compton, said, “is for everyone to take personal responsibility for prevention of the spread of the virus, in order to avoid returning to additional restrictions.”
If a person is unable to make it to one of the free COVID-19 community testing sites, other options are available.
The Health Department charges a $10, cash only, fee for a rapid-result test. Call 417-847-2114 to speak with a healthcare worker to arrange for a test.
In answer to a reader’s question, according to Office of Emergency Management Director, David Compton, funds from the federal CARES Act cover the cost of test media and machine for the health department, however, the $10 fee goes toward the cost of test administration and protective apparel.
Neither CoxHealth nor Mercy Hospitals charge for COVID-19 tests if a patient schedules a virtual visit for a physician’s referral.
Janell Patton, Community Relations Manager for CoxHealth, says, under the FFCRA and CARES acts, insurance carriers are generally required to waive any patient financial responsibility for COVID-19 testing.
“However,” she said, “health care costs for insured patients are set by their insurance companies, so we can’t comment across-the-board on how much patients pay for services.”
According to Patton, with few exceptions, CoxHealth does not bill uninsured patients for COVID-19 testing.
To receive a referral for a test, CoxHealth encourages patients to make a virtual visit through their Virtual Visits program at www.coxhealth.com/services/virtualvisits. Virtual evaluations are offered at no out-of-pocket responsibility for anyone throughout the region, regardless of insurance.
“If a patient is seen at a clinic or urgent care for an evaluation, as opposed to a Virtual Visit, they will be charged their standard co-pay for the visit,” Patton said. “However, we will strive to advise them of the virtual service so they could utilize it, instead, if possible.”
Sonya Kullman, spokesperson for Mercy Hospitals, reports that Mercy is not charging for COVID-19 testing either, although they do request that a person not schedule an office visit.
“We ask that patients visit mymercy.net, or call their health care provider for a test referral, then a free test can be given at the hospital or clinic,” she said.
The Barry County Health Department reminds residents physical distancing, wearing cloth face-coverings, and the frequent washing of hands and cleaning of surfaces are the best ways to prevent spread of the disease. 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.
Sheila Harris
According to a recent Joplin Globe article, Joplin’s hospital referral region, which includes southwest Missouri, has emerged as one of the nation’s hotspots for COVID-19 growth.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) said the significant case growth in southwest Missouri is being monitored and special attention is being given to food processing plants that employ many essential workers in the area.
According to the DHSS report, The state’s “box-in” strategy approach is currently being used in the area where the outbreak is impacting citizens residing primarily in McDonald, Jasper, Newton and Barry Counties.
The “box in” strategy for the outbreak involves comprehensive testing, isolating all infected people, locating all contacts of the infected people, and having those contacts self-quarantine for 14 days.
In McDonald County, Tyson Foods has worked with state and local public health officials and arranged for comprehensive testing of all employees, most of whom presented with no symptoms, and also agreed to operate at 60 percent capacity to allow for those with positive results or close contacts of those positive cases to properly isolate or quarantine. Additionally, they are enhancing several infection prevention measures at the facility, including robust cleaning and disinfection practices.
Other clusters of cases in the region are also beingmonitored. DHSS statewide data shows that 310 of the 413 new cases reported to the state from midday June 20-midday June 21 were those of residents of the City of Joplin and McDonald, Jasper and Newton Counties. DHSS is providing contact tracing support for the local public health agencies impacted by the case growth associated with these outbreaks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will also be deploying a team to the area this week to assist state and local health authorities with the epidemiological investigation. This investigation will determine risk factors for the COVID-19 spread in the Missouri counties bordering Arkansas where the outbreak has been ongoing, evaluate role of meat and poultry plant outbreaks in the community spread of infection, estimate prevalence and determine risk factors for COVID-19 spread in the pediatric population and develop a community mitigation plan for the COVID-19 outbreak in those counties.
According to the CDC, there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food. Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread from person-to-person through respiratory droplets.
“We are grateful for our partnerships locally, federally and in neighboring states like Arkansas, that allow all of us to collaborate during these times that public health experts are in great need,” said Dr. Randall Williams, director of DHSS. “It is also important to understand that this is a localized outbreak - not a surge of cases throughout the state - and together, we are responding accordingly.”
At press time, the Barry County Health Department and Office of Emergency Management had reported a total of 36 cases in Barry County - a number which has tripled since June 12 - and the Lawrence County Health Department had reported eight new case.
Most of the recent cases have been a result of community spread.
One person who tested positive visited the following locations on June 15
• The YMCA in Monett from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monett Family Restaurant, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
People who visited those locations on those dates, but who did not have close contact with the individual, are at low risk of contracting COVID-19, but should monitor themselves for symptoms.
One patient who tested positive was an employee of EFCO Corporation in Monett, a subsidiary of Apogee Enterprises.
Vice President of Communications for Apogee, Jeff Huebschen, said, in regard to the positive diagnosis, EFCO is following CDC guidelines for preventing the spread of the virus, including re-configuration of work stations to allow space for social-dstancing. Temperature screenings and the wearing of face-covering are also required.
“The safety of our employees is our priority,” Huebschen said.
More information about EFCO’s COVID-19 safety precautions can be found at apog.com. The Barry County Health Department and Office of Emergency Management attribute the increase in COVID-19 cases in the area to the reduction of Phase 1 restrictions, the increase in large gatherings, and the increase in cases in neighboring counties.
“Our goal,” Emergency Management Director, David Compton, said, “is for everyone to take personal responsibility for prevention of the spread of the virus, in order to avoid returning to additional restrictions.”
If a person is unable to make it to one of the free COVID-19 community testing sites, other options are available.
The Health Department charges a $10, cash only, fee for a rapid-result test. Call 417-847-2114 to speak with a healthcare worker to arrange for a test.
In answer to a reader’s question, according to Office of Emergency Management Director, David Compton, funds from the federal CARES Act cover the cost of test media and machine for the health department, however, the $10 fee goes toward the cost of test administration and protective apparel.
Neither CoxHealth nor Mercy Hospitals charge for COVID-19 tests if a patient schedules a virtual visit for a physician’s referral.
Janell Patton, Community Relations Manager for CoxHealth, says, under the FFCRA and CARES acts, insurance carriers are generally required to waive any patient financial responsibility for COVID-19 testing.
“However,” she said, “health care costs for insured patients are set by their insurance companies, so we can’t comment across-the-board on how much patients pay for services.”
According to Patton, with few exceptions, CoxHealth does not bill uninsured patients for COVID-19 testing.
To receive a referral for a test, CoxHealth encourages patients to make a virtual visit through their Virtual Visits program at www.coxhealth.com/services/virtualvisits. Virtual evaluations are offered at no out-of-pocket responsibility for anyone throughout the region, regardless of insurance.
“If a patient is seen at a clinic or urgent care for an evaluation, as opposed to a Virtual Visit, they will be charged their standard co-pay for the visit,” Patton said. “However, we will strive to advise them of the virtual service so they could utilize it, instead, if possible.”
Sonya Kullman, spokesperson for Mercy Hospitals, reports that Mercy is not charging for COVID-19 testing either, although they do request that a person not schedule an office visit.
“We ask that patients visit mymercy.net, or call their health care provider for a test referral, then a free test can be given at the hospital or clinic,” she said.
The Barry County Health Department reminds residents physical distancing, wearing cloth face-coverings, and the frequent washing of hands and cleaning of surfaces are the best ways to prevent spread of the disease. 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.