Local health departments report 18 deaths; CDC releases new quarantine guidelines

Friday, December 4, 2020
Sikeston MediCenter Pharmacy is now offering rapid testing by appointment only. Here, Ashley Rogers of MediCenter administers a test Wednesday morning. Results from the tests, which are available with cash-pay option only, will be available within 15 minutes. To schedule a rapid test, you can call the pharmacy's direct testing line at 573-258-9204. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

Local health departments reported 18 deaths Thursday related to COVID-19 while the CDC has new guidelines regarding quarantine periods.

The Scott County Health Department reported two more virus deaths on Thursday.

The deaths, both residents in their 70s, make 45 deaths since the pandemic began and five deaths in the last two days in Scott County.

The health department also reported 24 new positive cases on Thursday and 14 recoveries. There are 776 active cases in the county while 2,941 have recovered.

The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center reported eight additional deaths on Thursday. Three were in their 80s while two were in their 60s. One person was in their 50s while one was in their 70s and the other in their 90s. There has been 78 deaths in the county since the pandemic began.

Currently there are 1,421 active cases in Cape Girardeau County while 4,473 have recovered.

Six deaths were reported by the Dunklin County Health Department on Thursday, making 18 in the county since the pandemic began.

To date there are 79 active cases in Dunklin County with 2,151 recoveries.

An additional death was also reported by the Pemiscot County Health Center on Thursday, their 24th since March.

There are 69 active cases in Pemiscot County with 15 of those hospitalized. There has been 1,193 released from isolation.

The Stoddard County Public Health Center reported 22 new positive cases on Thursday along with one additional death. The death is the 46th in the county related to the virus.

Currently there are 220 active cases in Stoddard County with 1,966 recovered.

The New Madrid County Health Department reports 74 active cases as of Wednesday with 1,465 out of quarantine. There have been 24 deaths reported in the county since the pandemic began in March.

CDC Quarantine changes

The CDC released alternative quarantine guidance regarding close contact quarantine periods on Thursday.

The new guidelines will recommend close contacts of those infected with the coronavirus should quarantine for 7 to 10 days after exposure, down from the 14 days currently recommended.

Individuals can end their quarantine after 7 days if they receive a negative test and do not develop symptoms, or 10 days without getting tested and experiencing no symptoms.

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