Omicron variant rising quickly throughout area

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

The presence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is rising quickly throughout the state and area according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Statewide there has been 21,889 reported by the MDHSS with 29 deaths. While the number of cases are increasing by 39.4% from the seven days prior, the death rate has dropped 48.2%.

In the last seven days, Scott County has reported 69 new cases with one death while 25 new cases have been reported to the state health department in the last week and no deaths. In Mississippi County, 23 new cases have been reported and 20 in Stoddard County in the last seven days. Neither county reported a death.

Hospitalization

Statewide, the state health department is reporting 2,154 hospitalizations for COVID-19 with 26% bed capacity remaining.

There are 466 patients in ICU with COVID-19 while 19% of bed capacity remains around the state.

There are 264 patients on ventilators with 69% capacity remaining statewide.

Vaccinations

Statewide, 61% of the population has initiated vaccination while 53.9% has completed vaccination.

Locally, 40.5% of Scott County has initiated vaccination with 36.7% completing vaccination. In Stoddard County the numbers are similar with 41.1% initiating vaccination and 37.5% completing the process while 39.4% of Mississippi County residents have initiated vaccination with 36.3% completing it. New Madrid County reports 39.1% of the population initiating vaccination with 35.3% completing vaccination.

In Scott County, 304 doses were administered in the last seven days while 104 doses were administered in New Madrid County and another 92 in Mississippi County. In Stoddard County, 226 doses were administered in the last seven days.

Quarantine/isolation changes

Last week, the CDC updated recommended times for COVID-19 quarantine and isolation.

Those who test positive are told to stay home for five days, regardless of vaccination status. In days 6-10, if you have no symptoms or the symptoms are resolving, you can leave your house but are told to continue to wear a mask around others.

Those who still have a fever are told to continue to stay home until the fever resolves.

If you have been exposed to COVID-19 and are boosted, monitor your temperature and get tested, if possible, on day five. Wear a mask around others for 10 days.

Those who are unvaccinated or vaccinated over six months ago with Pfizer or Moderna or over two months ago with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine are told to stay home for five days if exposed to COVID-19.

On the fifth day, test if possible and then continue to wear a mask around others for five more days. If you can’t quarantine, you must wear a mask for 10 days.

Those who develop symptoms are told to get a test and stay home.

Testing

With increased COVID-19 activity as the Omicron variant continues to spread, the MDHSS is reporting a sharp increase in demand for COVID-19 testing.

“In addition to staying current on COVID vaccinations and boosters, getting tested is a key step the public can take to protect others, particularly as Missourians are spending more time indoors with the cooler temperatures. The risk for the transmission of respiratory illnesses increases as individuals spend more time indoors with others,” said Donald Kauerauf, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said in a release. “We are grateful to see individuals deciding to get tested to limit any unintended spread of the virus.”

According to media reports, it has become increasingly difficult to locate available rapid COVID-19 tests on retailers’ shelves or obtain an appointment from a provider. Separately, state-operated testing resources have been stretched during the recent holiday influx of demand, but resources remain available and are being expanded further. 

The State of Missouri has continued providing drive-through community testing sites throughout the state and is actively working to add locations and available hours to the St. Louis and Kansas City areas this coming week. The State is also responsible for supplying several entities across the state with testing supplies for their populations, especially the most vulnerable living or working in congregate settings. 

In May, the State began offering free at-home testing kits for Missourians. From this program’s inception through Dec. 29, just 6,500 kits had been ordered. On Thursday, the program reached 15,000 orders during the month of December alone.

These tests were authorized for emergency use by the FDA, and an individual is able to order the free testing kit online, and the kit will be delivered to the home in two days. The kit is good for six months and comes with easy-to-follow instructions. Once the individual performs the collection by nasal swab, the testing kit needs to be returned to a FedEx collection site within 24 hours. Shipping is also free, and test results are provided via email.

Free vaccine/tests:

Missourians can get a free COVID-19 vaccine:

• Check for vaccine appointments at Vaccines.gov, where you can search for availability by vaccine type.

• Call the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 1-800-232-0233 (or TTY 1-888-720-7489). Help is available in multiple languages. 

• Locate local vaccination events in Missouri at MOStopsCovid.com.  

• Seniors can make arrangements using information at MOStopsCovid.com/seniors

- Missouri DHSS COVID-19 Public Hotline

-1-877-435-8411

- Mon.-Fri., 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. 

Missourians can get a free COVID-19 test:

• Utilize one of the state’s free community testing sites.

• Order a test through the state’s free at-home COVID-19 testing program.

• Find a free testing option near you through the federal pharmacy locations.

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