State says area could be at higher risk than rest of state for spike in cases

Friday, June 19, 2020

In data released from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Southeast Missouri could be more at risk than the rest of Missouri for spread of COVID-19.

The data shows that the Region E, which is made up of 15 counties in Southeast Missouri, is seeing an increase in cases. The week-to-week change in the “reproductive rate” of COVID-19 is the average number of people one person who has the virus is likely to infect in a population without any immunity or interventions.

According to the DHSS, that rate in Region E is up 0.5 from May 26 to June 1, which is the last time frame available. The next highest increase is Central Missouri, which is 0.2 and St. Louis at 0.18.

While the number of cases in the area has increased over the last week, there have been no new reported deaths and the number of active cases has remained relatively consistent with the exception of Dunklin County and Scott County.

According to the Dunklin County Health Department, there has been an increase of 19 cases in the last week, giving the county 73 positive cases with 31 active and three deaths, up from 54 positive cases and 12 active a week ago.

In the last week, Scott County has seen an increase in 17 positive cases. According to the Scott County Health Department Friday afternoon, the county has 149 positive cases with 39 of those active, seven more active cases than at the same time last week.

New Madrid County has seen an increase in just one case in the last week, with the New Madrid County Health Department reporting just 34 cases at 2 p.m. Friday. Of those 10 are active, one less than a week ago. There has been one death.

The Stoddard County Public Health Center was reporting 122 cases early Friday afternoon, nine more than a week ago with one less active case. Currently there are 36 active cases and there have been eight deaths.

Mississippi County has seen an increase of five cases in the last week, giving the county 76 confirmed positive tests. The Mississippi County Health Department last reported 39 active cases, with 21 of those in the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston.

The Pemiscot County Health Department is reporting 105 positive cases, an increase of just three in the last week. They have six active cases, four less than last week. There have been six Pemiscot County residents who have died due to COVID-19.

Statewide, Missouri has seen an increase of 1,616 cases in the last week and 76 deaths, an average of 231 new cases per day and 11 deaths. To date, Missouri has 17,201 positive tests with 948 deaths.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: