Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates

Positive coronavirus cases continue to increase locally while two more people have died in area counties related to COVID-19. The Scott County Health Department reported that ninth person has died in Scott County related to COVID-19. No further information was released about the death...

A fifth person has died in Stoddard County related to COVID-19. According to the Stoddard County Public Health Center, a resident of Crowley Ridge Nursing Home died at approximately 1:45 p.m. Tuesday. The death is the fifth from the outbreak at the nursing home...

CHARLESTON — Members of the Missouri National Guard were at the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston Tuesday and Wednesday as part of a plan to have sentinel testing at all Missouri Department of Corrections adult institutions. “We now have the necessary number of supplies to be able to meet the needs for testing our entire division of adult institutions, staff and offender populations, which is approximately 32,000 people,” said Anne Precythe, director of the Missouri Department of Corrections at Tuesday’s press conference with Missouri Gov. ...

Another person died related to COVID-19 in Stoddard County over the weekend as local counties continue to see an increase in positive cases. The death is the fourth in Stoddard County, all related to an outbreak of the coronavirus at the Crowley Ridge Nursing Home. The Stoddard County Public Health Center last reported 74 positive cases with 42 of those active. There have been 28 recoveries and four deaths...

Two additional positive COVID-19 cases have been reported in Scott County. According to the Scott County Health Department Friday afternoon, two women, one over the age of 80 and another between the ages of 60-69 tested positive in Scott County. There are just 16 active cases with 91 total positive cases to date. There have been 67 residents that have recovered with eight deaths...

Missouri Secretary of State John R. “Jay” Ashcroft hand-delivered personal protection equipment to Scott County Clerk Rita Milam Wednesday at the Scott County Courthouse in Benton. Ashcroft’s delivery included hand sanitizer, face masks, face shields, social distancing reminder posters and sticker floor strips to be used at precincts in the upcoming June 2 municipal election. ...

SIKESTON — Sikeston R-6 officials have decided to cancel prom but will continue to move forward with plans for graduation next month. The announcement was made by Sikeston High School Head Principal Doyle Noe and Sikeston R-6 Superintendent Dr. Tony Robinson via a video posted Wednesday on social media. A letter by Noe was also posted on the district’s official Facebook page...

SIKESTON — Unilever hosted a Day of Service on Thursday, where the company donated one day’s worth of products to organizations during the coronavirus pandemic. Some of the organizations that Unilever distributed to are Feeding America and Direct Relief...

An eighth death related to COVID-19 has been reported in Scott County while three deaths have now been reported at a Dexter nursing home. The Scott County Health Department reported the county’s eighth death Wednesday afternoon while also reporting an additional positive case on Thursday afternoon. The new case is a male between the ages of 30-39, giving Scott County 89 positive cases with 15 active. Besides the eight deaths there have been 66 recoveries...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. - DAEOC, in partnership with SEMO Food Bank, will begin distributing emergency food boxes through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program at four Head Start and Early Head Start locations in Pemiscot and Dunklin Counties. This program has been created as a solution to the nation’s struggling supply chain that has been disrupted by the COVID-19 Crisis, leaving America’s farmers with surplus products and America’s families in desperate need of nutritious food. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — During Wednesday’s COVID-19 briefing, Gov. Mike Parson announced the launch of a new COVID-19 dashboard containing Missouri-specific data from across the state.  “Throughout COVID-19, we have worked very hard to be transparent and provide Missourians with the most accurate, up-to-date information as possible, and the same goes for this dashboard,” Governor Parsonsaid. ...

An eighth death related to COVID-19 has been reported in Scott County while a second death has been reported at a Dexter nursing home. Scott County reported the death Wednesday afternoon while also reporting an additional two cases. The new cases, both females, one between the ages of 30-39 and another over the age of 80, give Scott County 88 positive cases with 16 active. Besides the eight deaths there have been 64 recoveries...

The Stoddard County Public Health Center is reporting its first death of a patient at Crowley Ridge Nursing Home resident. According to a statement from the Health Center, the resident was admitted into the hospital on the morning of May 14 due to showing symptoms of the virus. Prior to leaving and upon arrival to the hospital, the patient was tested for COVID-19 and found to be positive...

A nursing home in Stoddard County has an outbreak of positive COVID-19 cases while there have been three deaths in Southeast Missouri reported since Friday. The Scott County Health Department reported a death related to COVID-19 Monday afternoon and both Cape Girardeau County and New Madrid County reported a death related to COVID-19 on Friday. ...

The Stoddard County Public Health Center is reporting a “hot spot” of COVID-19 at a Stoddard County nursing home. According to a release from the Stoddard County Public Health Center Friday afternoon, officials are unsure to what extent the outbreak may reach...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — New Madrid County has had their first death related to COVID-19. The New Madrid County Health Department announced the death late Friday afternoon. No further information was given on the death. Currently New Madrid County has 14 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases with two active cases...

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft will visit local election authorities Wednesday to deliver personal protective equipment for the June 2 General Municipal Election. Ashcroft will deliver face masks, distancing strips, sanitizer, face shields and posters to local election authorities for their polling locations. Ashcroft will deliver Scott County’s equipment in Benton at 11:05 a.m.; Mississippi County’s in Charleston at 11:40 a.m. and New Madrid County’s in New Madrid at 12:30 p.m...

SIKESTON — Southeast Missouri Food Bank has scheduled more Covid-19 Response Mobile food distributions to respond to the increased need for food assistance following temporary layoffs and school closures due to the outbreak of Covid-19. The next Covid-19 Response Mobile will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Morley Baptist Church, 221 South Stephenson, in Morley...

The Scott County Health Department reported one new case on Thursday afternoon, giving Scott County 84 positive cases of COVID-19. There are 15 active cases with 63 recovered and six deaths. Of the positive cases in Scott County, 23 of those testing positive have been over the age of 80 and 52 of those testing positive have been female...

SIKESTON — While many local businesses have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, some have used the pandemic as a time to change or explore new ideas. “I knew right away that we needed to change, adjust and plan differently,” said Brooke Buchanan, owner of Personal Expressions. “I love our employee family and customers and didn’t want anyone to get lost in the changes.”...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Gov. Mike Parson announced on Wednesday a series of testing priorities designed to detect and rapidly contain potential COVID-19 outbreaks as the state gradually reopens its economy. “One of our primary focuses during this pandemic is testing. It helps protect the safety of Missourians as we begin to reopen our economy and get Missourians back to work,” said Parson. “Testing capacity gives people the confidence needed to get back to normal.”...

There are 136 new positive COVID-19 cases in Missouri Wednesday with 18 additional deaths. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, there are 10,142 Missourians who have tested positive with 542 deaths. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports that Scott County has 83 positive cases of COVID-19. That is an increase of one from Tuesday. The Scott County Health Department had not updated their numbers today...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — During Tuesday’s COVID-19 briefing, Gov. Mike Parson discussed the economic recovery portion of the “Show Me Strong” Recovery Plan. “I’m glad to see Missourians begin to safely re-engage in the economy, and we are thankful for the businesses across the state that have stepped up and implemented new measures to keep employees and customers safe,” said Parson...

Scott County Collector Mark Hensley meets with a visitor on Thursday outside of the Scott County Courthouse. The Courthouse remains open for business during the pandemic but in a different way than usual. Visitors are asked to call the courthouse to make an appointment, and an employee will meet them outside. Department phone numbers are listed on the front door of the courthouse...

The Scott County Health Department reported just one new positive case of COVID-19 on Tuesday while 10 more have recovered. According to the Health Department, there are now only 13 active cases in Scott County with 63 recovered. Scott County has had six deaths with the latest being reported Monday...

SIKESTON — The YMCA of Southeast Missouri will reopen Monday. The YMCA closed its doors due to the coronavirus March 17 and will be reopen Monday with some guidelines and restrictions. “We never could have imagined that our Y would have been so dark and quiet for the past eight weeks,” said Brandy Johnson, YMCA member and program experience director. “We have missed the smiles, waves, laughter, and conversations of our members and are ready to see our Y family again.”...

The chief medical officer of the Saint Francis Health System agrees it would be better if people don’t shake hands after the current COVID-19 pandemic runs its course. Thomas Diemer, M.D., also president of Saint Francis Medical Partners, thinks White House medical advisor Anthony Fauci is giving the nation “good advice.”...

Another death related to COVID-19 has been reported in Scott County while more inmates and staff members have tested positive at the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston. The Scott County Health Department reported their sixth death related to COVID-19 Monday afternoon while announcing 81 positive cases. Of those, 22 are still active with 53 recovered. There have only been three new positive cases since Thursday...

Members of the 1-138th Infantry Regiment of the Missouri National Guard in St. Louis assisted with Thursday’s distribution of food from the New Madrid Food Pantry, 201 Pinnell Lane. The 1-138th is working with food banks in Southeast Missouri due to the shortage of volunteers and is assisting with packing the food as well as distribution. ...

Five people have now died in Scott County as a result of COVID-19 and 16 additional positive cases are being reported in Mississippi County. The Scott County Health Department reported the fourth and fifth deaths in Scott County late Thursday afternoon. The Health Department did not release any further information on the deaths...

SIKESTON — With the easing of restrictions due to the COVID-19 outbreak, area high schools have rescheduled or modified their graduation ceremonies for the class of 2020. Bell City R-2, Dexter and Charleston R-1 school districts hosted the area’s first high school graduations...

SIKESTON — Those looking for meat at the grocery story or those trying to purchase their favorite hamburger may have come up empty lately. As several U.S. production plants have been temporarily shuttered in the last two weeks due to workers getting sick from the coronavirus, the country is seeing a meat shortage...

Sikeston High School celebrated its class of 2020 this week with a virtual senior week; each day was designated for something special. On Thursday — which was originally scheduled to be graduation — the school held a “senior sendoff,” decorating the circle drive of A Building with balloons, banners and the inflatable Bulldog. The seniors returned their iPads and books and also received Decision Day giveaway items. Due to COVID-19, Sikeston’s graduation was rescheduled for June 11...

Five new positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported at the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston while Scott County has reported their third death. The Scott County Health Department reported the third death Thursday afternoon. No further information on the death was provided...

SIKESTON — After weeks on Zoom and Facebook Live, churches in Missouri are allowed to meet in person, beginning this week. While some are taking a cautious approach and continuing their worshiping online, others are planning to meet in person Sunday, with some precautions...

SIKESTON — The weekly Downtown Sikeston Farmers’ Market returns Saturday to kick off the new season. Set for 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Saturday now through December in Legion Park, the farmers’ market includes anything made or grown in Missouri, according to Downtown Director Jason Davis...

The Missouri Department of Corrections reports one additional inmate and four staff members at the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Wednesday. This brings the prison’s total number of confirmed cases to 31 inmates and nine staff members...

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — MERS Missouri Goodwill Industries will reopen 23 of its 44 retail stores and donations centers on Thursday in accordance to and under the direction of federal, state, and local guidelines. The stores in outlying Missouri areas where the order has been lifted including stores in St. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — During Wednesday’s COVID-19 briefing, Gov. Mike Parson announced that Missouri will receive $66 million for child care assistance and $1.5 million for food banks under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act...

SIKESTON — Bearing signs that read: “You beat COVID 2020,” masked doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and staff from throughout all departments lined the front lobby of Missouri Delta Medical Center Tuesday morning as they waited for COVID-19 patient Dione “Dee” Blissett to emerge from the hallway...

According to the Missouri Department of Corrections, two more employees and another inmate at the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston have tested positive for COVID-19. The additional cases bring the number of inmates who have tested positive to 30 while five staff members have tested positive. According to the Mississippi County Health Department, the staff members do not reside in Mississippi County...

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Missouri saw an increase of 368 cases Monday and six deaths, giving the state 8,754 positive cases and 358 deaths. Since Friday afternoon, the state has seen an increase of 919 positive cases. There have been over 91,000 tests given in the state...

This week Bootheel Counseling Services will present free web presentations entitled BCS Talks. The goal of the presentations are to provide tips, training and techniques on managing behavioral health while starting a conversation with the community...

SIKESTON — As Missouri re-opens Monday, one group that will continue the way it’s been operating during the coronavirus pandemic is the local senior nutrition centers. When the pandemic was declared and social distancing began in March, like all businesses, senior centers modified their way of operations, too, by closing their dine-in services and providing curbside services to their clients...

As the stay-at-home orders lift on Monday, the state has issued several guidelines for businesses and restaurants while local cities also have additional policies in place that take effect on Monday. However, while the stay-at-home orders are lifted, the Scott County Health Department is urging residents to continue to use caution...

By David Jenkins Standard Democrat Scott County saw an increase in seven new COVID-19 cases Friday afternoon, according to the Scott County Health Department. Scott County has 75 total positive cases with 40 of those active. There have been 33 recoveries and two deaths. Of the seven new cases, four are over the age of 80 while three are between the ages of 50-59...

BENTON, Mo. — The Scott County Commission decided on Thursday to repeal the county’s “stay-at-home” ordinance, effective at 12:01 a.m. Monday. However, residents are encouraged to continue practicing social distancing and good hygiene. The official decision was made during the Commission’s regular meeting Thursday at the Scott County Courthouse in Benton...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri State Parks, a division of the Department of Natural Resources, today announced phase one of a phased approach to resuming normal operations.  While the vast majority of Missouri state parks and historic sites have remained open for day use, Missouri State Parks has implemented a number of measures designed to maintain required social distancing and protect visitors and team members.  ...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — An additional six inmates at the Charleston prison have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of inmate confirmed cases to 29, the Mississippi County Health Department announced Wednesday. The health department said the Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services and Department of Corrections contacted them with the news on Wednesday...

An additional six inmates at the Charleston prison have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of inmate confirmed cases to 29, the Mississippi County Health Department announced Wednesday. The health department said the Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services and Department of Corrections contacted them with the news on Wednesday...