Six more COVID deaths reported locally

Six more deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported locally as many new positive cases have been reported since Monday as well.

According to the Scott County Health Department, a county resident in their 60s died due to COVID-19 complications, making 93 deaths in the county related to the virus.

The health department also reported 92 new positive cases of the virus in the county since Monday along with 74 more that have recovered. That gives the county 359 active COVID-19 cases.

The New Madrid County Health Department reported two additional deaths making 57 related to COVID since the pandemic began.

On Wednesday, the health department reported 85 new positive cases since Monday, giving New Madrid County 160 active cases.

A free testing event will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the New Madrid Public Safety Center parking lot, 342 US Hwy 61. No appointment or pre-registration is needed.

Three more deaths were also reported in Stoddard County, making 85 deaths in the county related to COVID. The Stoddard County Public Health Center is reporting 222 active cases, with 68 new cases since Monday.

The Mississippi County Health Department is reporting 88 new positive cases since Monday with 31 of those in the 0-19 age group.

With the increase in active cases there will be free COVID testing in East Prairie on Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The testing will be held at the old Regions Bank and test results should be back within 24 hours. Testing will be given every Tuesday for four weeks, beginning Sept. 7.

The testing is open to everyone and no appointment is needed. Everyone taking part in the testing is asked to enter the alley from Lincoln Street so it does not block the Main Street Pharmacy’s drive-thru.

Hospitalizations

In Southeast Missouri, 142 people were hospitalized with the virus as of Wednesday, leaving only 15% of the region’s inpatient beds available. Of those 142, 48 of those patients were in ICU, leaving 25% capacity available with 45 patients were on ventilators. There is 57% capacity available on ventilators.

Saint Francis Healthcare reported 41 COVID patients in the hospital Monday with 38 unvaccinated and two partially vaccinated. There are 27 in the COVID Care Unit with 14 on ventilators. Of the 14, 11 are unvaccinated, two partially vaccinated and one vaccinated.

At Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, there are 14 COVID patients currently hospitalized with three on ventilators. All 14 are unvaccinated.

The hospital reports 72 have been COVID patients have been admitted since Aug. 1, with 62 of those unvaccinated. Of the 10 vaccinated, two required a ventilator and one has died. Of the 62 unvaccinated, 10 required ventilators and five have died.

The Sikeston Regional Monoclonal Antibody Infusion site opened on Friday and can treat up to 20 COVID patients per day with the goal to improve COVID illness symptoms, prevent hospitalizations and even death. In the first three days, 17 infusions have been administered.