Mississippi County Health Department confirms county's first COVID-19 case

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Mississippi County Health Department in Charleston confirmed via social media on Tuesday the county’s first case of COVID-19.

“Please be aware that we have started our contact tracing to identify those who may have been a close contact to the individual,” the health department said in a post on its official Facebook page Tuesday morning. “Close contact means that they were within 6 feet of the positive individual for at least 30 minutes. If you see a phone number from either Charleston or East Prairie Health Department, please answer the call. If you do not answer, we will leave a message with contact information to call us.”

The health department encouraged people to be safe and continue to practice social distancing, proper hygiene by washing their hands and covering their coughs/sneezes. Stay home, especially if they are sick and sanitize frequently used surfaces, the health department said.