UPDATED NUMBERS: Stoddard County reporting ‘hot spot’ at nursing home; New Madrid County has first death related to COVID-19

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.

“We are currently aware of a few existing cases among residents in the nursing home,” according to the statement. “Please be aware that all residents and staff in this nursing home have been tested and we are currently awaiting results. We’re working with multiple physicians and medical staff to contain the situation and eventually, hopefully resolve it.”

The nursing home has not been named but the Stoddard County Public Health Center said they were one of the first to take preventative measures in late February and early March.

“We are not yet aware of how the virus got into the nursing home and probably never will, but be assured it was not due to any error on part of the nursing home or the nursing home staff,” the release said. “Such is the nature of this virus, no matter what measures are taken to prevent it, there are no guarantees something like this will not happen.”

Of the existing patients who have tested positive, the Stoddard County Public Health Center reports all have since been admitted to local hospitals as more of a precautionary move rather than because of their physical condition. The families have been notified as well as families of those who are not exhibiting symptoms. Any residents showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be moved to a wing of the nursing home, strictly dedicated to the sickness and will be “cared for with every precaution to prevent further spread of the virus.”

The statement said the facility has more than enough personal protective equipment and other necessary medical equipment provided to them.

The Stoddard County Public Health Center is reporting 34 positive cases with four new cases reported Thursday afternoon. Of the 34 cases, 14 are active with 20 recovered.

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.

The Scott County Health Department is reporting one new positive COVID-19 case Friday afternoon.

Scott County now has 85 positive cases with 16 of those active. Of the 85 cases, 63 have recovered and there have been six deaths.

The new case being reported is an individual in the 80 and up age group, making 24 people 80 or above to test positive. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has previously reported an outbreak of COVID-19 at a congregate living facility in Scott County that has been confirmed to be at the Sikeston Convalescent Center.

There are no new cases being reported at the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston, according to the latest update by the Missouri Department of Corrections.

There are currently 43 inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 14 staff members. The Mississippi County Health Department is reporting 46 positive COVID-19 cases with 43 of them inmates in the prison.

The Pemiscot County Health Center is reporting one new case Friday afternoon, an individual between the ages of 30-39. According to the Pemiscot County Health Department the individual is being quarantined at home along with other residents of the home.

There are 68 positive cases of COVID-19 in Pemiscot County with 33 active and six hospitalized. Three Pemiscot County residents have died related to COVID-19 with 32 cases released from isolation. Of the 68 positive cases, 17 have been over the age of 80 and 47 have been over the age of 50. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has previously reported an outbreak of COVID-19 at a congregate living facility in Pemiscot County.

The stay-at-home order still in effect in Pemiscot County will lift at 12:01 a.m. Monday.

There have been no new cases reported in Bollinger County (4), Butler County (27), and Dunklin County (24).

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is reporting 139 new positive COVID-19 cases Friday afternoon with 14 additional deaths. To date, there have been 10,456 positive tests with 576 deaths. Over 135,000 tests have been given in Missouri.