Positive COVID-19 cases continue to rise as state reopens, testing increases

The number of positive COVID-19 cases in southeast Missouri continues to increase as the State of Missouri continues to reopen and the number of tests given rise.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson lifted the stay-at-home order in Missouri on May 4 and since many local businesses have reopened while people return to some normal activities. Also, testing is more accessible, including free drive-thru coronavirus testing from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. Registration is required but the testing is available to all Missouri residents.

With the increased testing and state reopening, local health departments expected the increase in positive cases that being seen.

The Scott County Health Department is reporting three new cases since Friday, giving Scott County 107 positive cases. One positive case was reported Saturday while two were reported Monday. Of the three new cases, all three were males with one between the ages of 30-39, one between the ages of 40-49 and one between the ages of 60-69.

There are 27 active cases in Scott County with 70 recovered. There have been 10 deaths.

According to the Mississippi County Health Department, the results are in from sentinel testing that was performed at the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston last week. The testing yielded three new positive tests among inmates, making it 46 total inmates that have tested positive.

In the Mississippi County general population, the number of cases has increased from 11 to 13 over the weekend, giving Mississippi County 59 positive cases.

The New Madrid County Health Department had yet to release any updated numbers early Monday afternoon after their free testing conducted last week, but the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports 21 cases in New Madrid County.

Dunklin County saw an increase of six cases over the weekend, making that 13 new positive cases since Tuesday. According to the Dunklin County Health Department, Dunklin County now has 44 positive cases with 19 active and 23 recovered. There have been two deaths.

Of the six new cases in Dunklin County, three were between the ages of 20-29, two between the ages of 30-39 and one between the age of 70-79.

Pemiscot County saw an increase in cases over the weekend as well. According to the Pemiscot County Health Center, 137 tests were completed as part of their drive-thru testing last week and there were eight positive results. Another additional positive case in Pemiscot County was from a clinic.

To date, Pemiscot County has 87 positive cases with 32 of those active. Four have died while 51 have been released from isolation. There is one person hospitalized in Pemiscot County.

There were five new confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Stoddard County over the weekend. According to the Stoddard County Health Center, there are 85 total cases with 50 active and 30 recoveries. There have been five deaths.

The Cape Girardeau County Health Department reported their third death on Friday, a resident in their 70s. No further details were provided.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Cape Girardeau County saw an increase of an additional case over the weekend, making a total of 74 positive cases.

The DHSS is reporting an increase of 179 cases in the last 24 hours with one additional death. To date, 13,326 Missourians have tested positive for the coronavirus while 773 have died related to COVID-19, however, that total does not include a death reported by the Cape Girardeau County Health Department and a death reported from the Scott County Health Department.

Local health departments are warning residents that the virus is still spreading through the area and everyone is asked to continue taking preventive actions to slow the spread. These include staying six feet away from individuals not in your household, covering mouth and nose with a cloth mask when in public, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, avoiding the touching of your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, washing your hands often and using hand sanitizer and staying home if you are sick.