Scott County now has 12 confirmed COVID-19 cases

Standard Democrat

SIKESTON — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to rise in Missouri.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, there have been 3,327 positive COVID-19 cases in the state as of Wednesday afternoon.

According to the Scott County Health Department, the number of confirmed cases in Scott County has reached 12 with four recovered or recovering.

New Madrid County now has 5 confirmed cases.

According to the Mississippi County Health Department still have no cases.

Other local county positive case totals as of Tuesday afternoon are:

• Cape Girardeau 23

• Dunklin 9

• Stoddard 8

• Pemiscot 4

• Butler 5

• Bollinger 2

Statewide there are 58 reported deaths.

The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center on Tuesday reported the first death of a Cape Girardeau County resident due to COVID-19.

The resident was in their 80s, according to a news release from the Cape County Public Health Department. No further details are being provided at this time due to medical privacy laws. As of Tuesday, there have been a total of 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Cape County, according to the health department.

A database operated by Johns Hopkins University shows 86 deaths as of Wednesday morning. The discrepancy could be because the university updates its data more often, and Missouri just recently changed its policy to require that coronavirus deaths be reported within 24 hours.

St. Louis County has the most cases in the state with 1,302 cases and 15 deaths

The top elected official in Missouri's largest county is seeking help from the Missouri National Guard in preparation for an expected surge in coronavirus-related hospitalizations.

Democratic St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said in a statement Wednesday that the National Guard “can play a critical role” in transporting patients and supplies, which would free up health care workers to focus on treating people.

As of Tuesday, 586 people in the region were hospitalized for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, or for symptoms indicating possible infection. Of those, 239 were in intensive care and 186 were on ventilators.

Another alarming rise in confirmed cases was reported at a nursing home. Franklin County Presiding Commissioner Tim Brinker cited 34 confirmed cases and three deaths at Grandview Healthcare in Washington, Missouri, about 50 miles southwest of St. Louis.

Nursing homes have been severely impacted by the virus. In Missouri, five residents have died at Morningside East Assisted Living Center in Springfield, and five others have died at Frontier Health & Rehabilitation in St. Charles, where 42 residents and eight workers have tested positive since the outbreak was first reported March 23.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced $27.7 million was awarded to 29 Missouri health centers. to help detect, prevent, diagnose and treat COVID-19, and to maintain or increase capacity and staffing levels during the pandemic.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report