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    • DHSS collaborates with area agencies to ensure vaccine access for seniors
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  • Sheila Harris Mother nature is playing no favorites across the nation this week, as unseasonably cold weather, snow and ice have affected, or are affecting, the majority of states. Millions in the U.S. are without power. In Barry County, both Barry Elec

Newton County COVID-19 patient
succumbed in Barry County

April 22, 2020
    Sheila Harris

Newton County Coroner, Dale Owen, confirmed Tuesday that Newton County’s 10th case of positive COVID-19 died at Mercy Hospital in Cassville, after staying with a friend in Barry County.

    “I was not called to Barry County to pronounce the person deceased,” Owen said. “It is my understanding that doctors at Mercy Hospital in Cassville did so.”

    Sonya Kullman, Media Relations and Communications Manager for Mercy, stated that a patient, who later tested positive for COVID-19, was pronounced dead in the Mercy Cassville emergency room.

    “The patient was brought in by EMS to Mercy Hospital Cassville,” Kullman said. “Both the EMS and the emergency department staff followed all the appropriate CDC protocols when the patient arrived to eliminate any risk of exposure to co-workers and patients.”

    According to Owen’s report, the friend in Barry County with whom the Newton County victim was staying called Barry County emergency personnel when the patient’s condition deteriorated.

    “An ambulance was dispatched to take him to Mercy Hospital in Cassville. He died en route, or shortly after arrival at Mercy, of cardiac complications,” Owen stated. “Because the man wished to be an organ donor, his body was transported to an organ donation facility in Kansas City by Chappel Crematory in Webb City. At the Kansas City facility, the deceased person was tested for COVID-19 prior to organ recovery. The results were positive.”

    Larry Bergner, Administrator for the Newton County Health Department, said he was unaware of the location of the deceased person at the time of his death, nor was he willing to provide a list of places the individual may have visited.

    “Up-to-date, our confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Newton County haven’t traveled much,” he said. “We don’t feel there’s a need to release that kind of information if it’s not necessary.”

    Roger Brock, Administrator for Barry County Health Department, indicated that he works closely with the Newton County Health Department (and others) and, if warranted, they follow the epidemiology (epi) trails of persons who may have had contact with residents of other counties.

    “Viruses don’t know what locale they’re in,” he said.

    Both Brock and Bergner said their offices have reached out to persons who were in contact with the deceased patient. They would like to remind citizens to continue to practice social distancing and sound hygiene.

    David Compton, Director of Emergency Management Operations in Barry County, indicated there’s a fine line sometimes between reporting information necessary for public safety and violating the privacy of patients, or creating public alarm.

    “HIPPA laws were instituted for patient privacy,” he said. “We always attempt to respect them. Sometimes it’s easier to do that when I think about what I would want revealed if I was the patient.”

    “County health departments,” he continued, “are under no obligation to report deaths to any county other than that of the deceased person’s residence. I do want to assure everyone, though, that the health departments always follow up with contacts of the deceased so they can monitor themselves for symptoms, no matter what county they live in.”
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  • Home
  • This Week's Issue
    • New 39th Circuit, county clerk appointments made
    • Cookbook sales benefit Backpack Program at Cassville R-IV
    • DeGraffenreid, Shelter Insurance Foundation Sponsor Scholarship
    • Health department taking names for vaccines
    • Letter to The Editor
    • Roark Family Health to host free COVID-19 testing clinics
    • Exeter High School celebrates homecoming
    • Freedom Bank helps bringweather stations to Cassville R-IV
    • Purdy Eagles improve to 13-4
    • Cox, Mercy collaborate to vaccinate
    • Area crashes result in moderate, minor injuries
    • Purdy High School crowns homecoming royalty
    • Hwy. 76 closed, 2/11, 12 - 4 p.m.
    • Herschel Stehlik receives recognition
    • Tip-off royalty crowned at CHS
    • CHS Class of '65 donates to museum
    • Going wins spelling bee for second consecutive year
    • Arning Restructures Board of Directors
    • Contest on ballot area school boards
    • Health department reports COVID-19 death
    • Local Shriners Honored
    • Five Wildcats on National Signing Day
    • Southwest's Sickles wins road race debut
    • Beloved Angels of Valentine's Day 2021
    • Stokes plays historic game at MSSU
    • Crowder cancels Tuesday classes
    • Liberty Utilities warns of blackouts
    • Barry Electric issues alert
    • Resident reminds of property tax credit for eligible seniors
    • Property rights: When private and public collide
    • Eunice Thomas Elementary to see change in leadership
    • Winter blankets the county
    • CoxHealth changes starting wage, compensation model
    • General Municipal Absentee Voting Begins Tuesday, February 23, 2021
    • Purdy R-II purchases bus radio system
    • Walmart Pharmacies offer COVID-19 vaccines
    • Health department postpones vaccine clinics
    • Beck Farm recognized as Missouri Century Farm award
    • Applications being accepted for 2021 Century Farm
    • DHSS collaborates with area agencies to ensure vaccine access for seniors
    • Basketball tournament brackets released
    • Blue Eye edges Southwest
    • Eunice Thomas January Students of The Month
    • Purdy January medalists announced
    • Southwest Elementary Students of The Month Named
    • Understanding County Aid Road Trust (CART) Funds
    • The Wildcat Takedown Club brings home awards
  • Classifieds
  • Obituaries
  • Advertising
    • Advertising Rates
    • Place Ad
  • Contact us
  • Archives
  • Subscription
  • Sheila Harris Mother nature is playing no favorites across the nation this week, as unseasonably cold weather, snow and ice have affected, or are affecting, the majority of states. Millions in the U.S. are without power. In Barry County, both Barry Elec