Active COVID cases up from same date in 2020

The number of active COVID-19 cases in the area continues to increase as local numbers are higher than this time last year.

In Scott County, there is currently 81 active cases while one year ago there were 63 active cases. To date, 4,063 have recovered with 86 deaths.

The biggest difference comes in Stoddard County. On Aug. 4, 2020, there were 26 active cases and Tuesday morning, the Stoddard County Public Health Center reported 157 active cases. To date, 3,363 have recovered while 72 deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported.

In Mississippi County there are 16 active cases being reported while last year there were just six active cases. To date, 1,761 are out of isolation with 32 deaths.

New Madrid County has fewer active cases than one year ago. At last report on Friday, the New Madrid County Health Department reported 41 active cases while 48 cases were active at this time last year. To date, 2,222 are out of quarantine while 53 deaths have been reported.

The number of increased positive cases is being blamed on the delta variant. The delta variant is the most contagious coronavirus mutant so far in the pandemic, but according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 vaccines still provide strong protection against it. Nearly all hospitalizations and deaths are among the unvaccinated.

Still, the CDC cited the delta’s surge for its updated advice that fully vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in areas with high transmission. The change is based on recent research suggesting that vaccinated people who get infected with the delta variant can spread it to others, even if the vaccinated don’t get seriously ill.

The new guidance helps protect the unvaccinated, including children who aren’t yet eligible for the shots, and others who are at high-risk for serious illness if infected.

Some breakthrough cases with mild or no symptoms were always expected, since the vaccines were designed to prevent serious illness. The CDC no longer publicly counts those milder breakthrough cases, but a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of data from states that keep a tally found they make up a tiny share of all COVID-19 infections.

The number of vaccinations across the state continues to increase with 90,978 vaccines administered in the last week, an average of 12,997 per day.

Locally, 32.8% of Scott County has completed vaccination according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Other local counties completed vaccination rate is: Mississippi, 31.6%; Stoddard County, 26.5% and New Madrid County, 22.8%.

There are plenty of options locally for those wanting the vaccine.

• The Scott County Health Department will be administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for persons 18 years and up by appointment at 573-471-4044.

• The Missouri Delta Medical Center is scheduling appointments for the Pfizer vaccine for anyone 12 and up. Call 573-471-1600 to schedule an appointment.

• Sikeston MediCenter Pharmacy has the Moderna vaccine available for persons 18 and up.

Appointments can be scheduled online at www.healthmarcovidvaccine.com or by calling the pharmacy at 471-4401.

• The Mississippi County Health Department holds a COVID Vaccine Clinic at their Charleston location every Wednesday. Anyone needing their first or second dose of Moderna, can call 573-683-2191 to be scheduled.

• The New Madrid County Health Department has the Moderna vaccine available. Anyone who would like to receive the vaccine should call the health department at 573-748-5541 to schedule an appointment.