UPDATED NUMBERS: Three more test positive at SECC; 30 cases confirmed at Sikeston nursing home

According to the Missouri Department of Corrections, two more employees and another inmate at the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston have tested positive for COVID-19.

The additional cases bring the number of inmates who have tested positive to 30 while five staff members have tested positive. According to the Mississippi County Health Department, the staff members do not reside in Mississippi County.

Last week the Mississippi County Health Department conducted 211 tests for COVID-19 and 208 results have come back, and all were negative. The Health Department said they are working with the Department of Health and Senior Services to find the missing three tests.

The Scott County Health Department is reporting 75 cases with just 24 of those cases active. There have been two deaths in Scott County and 49 people have recovered.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services information released late Friday, one congregate living facility in Scott County has had an outbreak. A congregate living facility include: long-term care facilities, which include skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, assisted living facilities and residential care facilities that provide nursing or convalescent care.

As previously reported, the Sikeston Convalescent Center has had a number of cases in their memory wing.

Brad Bedell, president of the facility’s operating company, confirmed to Jon Rust, publisher of the Southeast Missourian and co-president of Rust Communications, as of Friday that 30 cases were affiliated with the Sikeston Convalescent Center, including 19 residents and 11 staff. He said families and staff are fully apprised of steps being taken, but that it is not germane to the larger community.

Bedell added in an interview with Rust that staff has proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and said that cases emerging in a different unit than the dementia unit, which has been isolated, may have originated from a patient who needed specialized services.

The New Madrid County Health Department is reporting 11 positive cases with two currently active.

The number of positive cases continue to increase in Pemiscot County. Late Tuesday morning, the Pemiscot County Health Center reported six additional cases, giving Pemiscot County 46 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of the 46 positive cases, 25 are active with 18 released and there have been three deaths.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, one congregate living facility in Pemiscot County has had an outbreak.

The Dunklin County Health Department reported 22 positive cases Tuesday with only four active. Sixteen of the confirmed cases have recovered with two deaths.

The Stoddard County Public Health Center reports 22 positive cases with three active and 19 recovered.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, there was 162 additional positive tests Tuesday with 19 more deaths. A note from the MDHSS said the high number of deaths reported Tuesday is due to a delay in reporting and includes deaths from May 1-3.

There have been 8,916 positive cases in Missouri with 377 deaths according to the MDHSS with over 94,000 tests administered.