First and Second Cases of COVID-19 Reported in Stone County
March 31, 2020
Isaac Estes-Jones
It’s official: COVID-19 is in Stone County. According to the Stone County Health Department, two separate patients are recovering at home in quarantine and no changes are currently proposed regarding daily habits or gathering sizes. One case is considered travel related, with the patient being in an airport recently. The second is a staff member at Crane Elementary.
The two cases in Stone County is now among over 1,300 in the state of Missouri who have tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus). According to Pam Burnett, administrator of the Stone County Health Department (SCHD), as of Tuesday, March 31, two people are quarantined at home and all that have been in close contact with the patients have been contacted.
The first case was reported Sunday, March 29. During an interview, Burnett confirmed the person has been to an airport lately, so the case is considered travel related.
The second case was reported Tuesday, March 31, after 5 p.m. This is a case of community transmission and is not travel related. The person was also involved with handing out work packets at Crane Elementary School on Friday, March 27.
"We understand people have fears, especially if they are in the high-risk groups. Close contacts of our first cases have been contacted and are following isolation and quarantine guidelines. If you have not been contacted by Stone County Health Department, you are not considered a close contact," the health department said in an update.
The Stone County Health Department is actively investigating these cases and contacting everyone who was in close contact with this patients while they were infectious but not yet showing symptoms. “We are contacting everyone that needs to know right now,” Burnett said.
Patient one traveled to one public location
The only piece of information the health department would share about the patient is that they visited the Branson West Walmart around mid-morning on Friday, March 20. "People who were at this location on this date are at low risk for contracting COVID-19, but should monitor for symptoms. There is no need to self-quarantine or isolate unless personal symptoms develop. This is the only community exposure warranting notice to residents," according to the health department.
"We are confident that the low risk exposure was limited. Branson West Walmart is following and exceeding cleaning and disinfecting guidelines to protect their patrons."
Second patient helped hand out school work in Crane
"On Friday, March 27th, 2020, our second case was distributing packets at Crane School," the health department said.
"People who were at this location on this date are at low risk for contracting COVID-19, but should monitor for symptoms. There is no need to self-quarantine or isolate unless personal symptoms develop," the department said.
"The individual was involved in distribution of school supplies last Friday," said Dr. Chris Johnson, superintendent of Crane School District in a letter to parents. "If you have not been contacted [by the health department], your risk of infection is considered to be no greater than the general population," the letter continued.
However, changes for elementary students will still be implemented. The school "will not be handing out packets at the elementary for two weeks as a precaution," Dr. Johnson said in the letter. Food service delivery and high school education packets will not be impacted.
Other impacts on Crane students are still developing as of this writing Tuesday evening.
As of this writing, these are the only two positive cases in Stone County. Approximately 49 tests have been done in Stone County as of 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 31. Of those, 45 are negative, two are pending results and two were positive.
“The most important thing right now is that people not panic,” Burnett said. "It is allergy season now," she said, "But people need to know their bodies and remember you can't blame anything on allergies if you don't have allergies."
Identifiable information about the patients will not be released, the health department said earlier this week. "Stone County Health Department is mandated by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to protect health information about cases that arise in our county. Information we are allowed to release is very limited. Case location, other than county, is information we are not allowed to release," the health department said.
The first positive case is travel related case, according to a report from the SCHD. When asked if that means the patient had recently traveled to a known hot spot of the virus, Burnett said, “As things are, most airports are considered hot spots.”
Gathering limits not changed
No changes to gathering limits are being proposed at this time, Burnett confirmed. “Right now, people need to know the most important thing is following the guidelines we’ve laid out,” she said. “Stay at least six feet away from other people, stay home if you can, and keep washing your hands,” she said. “We are in daily contact with the county commissioners, working to keep our county safe,” Burnett said.
Stone County, as well as the entire state of Missouri, is under limitations to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including a ban on gatherings of ten or more people who do not reside in the same household, more stringent cleaning and health protocols and encouraging workers who can work from home to do so. There are no active shelter-in-place orders, however, Stone County has been under a State of Emergency declaration since Friday, March 20.
It’s official: COVID-19 is in Stone County. According to the Stone County Health Department, two separate patients are recovering at home in quarantine and no changes are currently proposed regarding daily habits or gathering sizes. One case is considered travel related, with the patient being in an airport recently. The second is a staff member at Crane Elementary.
The two cases in Stone County is now among over 1,300 in the state of Missouri who have tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus). According to Pam Burnett, administrator of the Stone County Health Department (SCHD), as of Tuesday, March 31, two people are quarantined at home and all that have been in close contact with the patients have been contacted.
The first case was reported Sunday, March 29. During an interview, Burnett confirmed the person has been to an airport lately, so the case is considered travel related.
The second case was reported Tuesday, March 31, after 5 p.m. This is a case of community transmission and is not travel related. The person was also involved with handing out work packets at Crane Elementary School on Friday, March 27.
"We understand people have fears, especially if they are in the high-risk groups. Close contacts of our first cases have been contacted and are following isolation and quarantine guidelines. If you have not been contacted by Stone County Health Department, you are not considered a close contact," the health department said in an update.
The Stone County Health Department is actively investigating these cases and contacting everyone who was in close contact with this patients while they were infectious but not yet showing symptoms. “We are contacting everyone that needs to know right now,” Burnett said.
Patient one traveled to one public location
The only piece of information the health department would share about the patient is that they visited the Branson West Walmart around mid-morning on Friday, March 20. "People who were at this location on this date are at low risk for contracting COVID-19, but should monitor for symptoms. There is no need to self-quarantine or isolate unless personal symptoms develop. This is the only community exposure warranting notice to residents," according to the health department.
"We are confident that the low risk exposure was limited. Branson West Walmart is following and exceeding cleaning and disinfecting guidelines to protect their patrons."
Second patient helped hand out school work in Crane
"On Friday, March 27th, 2020, our second case was distributing packets at Crane School," the health department said.
"People who were at this location on this date are at low risk for contracting COVID-19, but should monitor for symptoms. There is no need to self-quarantine or isolate unless personal symptoms develop," the department said.
"The individual was involved in distribution of school supplies last Friday," said Dr. Chris Johnson, superintendent of Crane School District in a letter to parents. "If you have not been contacted [by the health department], your risk of infection is considered to be no greater than the general population," the letter continued.
However, changes for elementary students will still be implemented. The school "will not be handing out packets at the elementary for two weeks as a precaution," Dr. Johnson said in the letter. Food service delivery and high school education packets will not be impacted.
Other impacts on Crane students are still developing as of this writing Tuesday evening.
As of this writing, these are the only two positive cases in Stone County. Approximately 49 tests have been done in Stone County as of 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 31. Of those, 45 are negative, two are pending results and two were positive.
“The most important thing right now is that people not panic,” Burnett said. "It is allergy season now," she said, "But people need to know their bodies and remember you can't blame anything on allergies if you don't have allergies."
Identifiable information about the patients will not be released, the health department said earlier this week. "Stone County Health Department is mandated by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to protect health information about cases that arise in our county. Information we are allowed to release is very limited. Case location, other than county, is information we are not allowed to release," the health department said.
The first positive case is travel related case, according to a report from the SCHD. When asked if that means the patient had recently traveled to a known hot spot of the virus, Burnett said, “As things are, most airports are considered hot spots.”
Gathering limits not changed
No changes to gathering limits are being proposed at this time, Burnett confirmed. “Right now, people need to know the most important thing is following the guidelines we’ve laid out,” she said. “Stay at least six feet away from other people, stay home if you can, and keep washing your hands,” she said. “We are in daily contact with the county commissioners, working to keep our county safe,” Burnett said.
Stone County, as well as the entire state of Missouri, is under limitations to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including a ban on gatherings of ten or more people who do not reside in the same household, more stringent cleaning and health protocols and encouraging workers who can work from home to do so. There are no active shelter-in-place orders, however, Stone County has been under a State of Emergency declaration since Friday, March 20.
Note: This is an updated version of a story first published online Sunday night, March 29. It has been updated with additional information and details on the second confirmed COVID-19 case in Stone County.