Several New Coronavirus Cases Reported In Stone County
July 1, 2020
isaac Estes-Jones
Several new cases of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, were reported in Stone County this week, bringing the total to 14. Last week, we reported on cases up to and including the 10th case in Stone County. Since that publication, the Stone County Health Department has reported four more positives, including one at a long-term care facility.
Stone County still remains far behind neighboring counties, however. As of June 30, Barry County reports 47 cases, Lawrence County has 32 reported positives and one death, Christian County has 43 cases and Taney County has 60 cases of the virus, including one death. To our south, Carroll County, Arkansas, has reported 169 positive cases and five deaths from the virus.
The 11th case was reported on Tuesday, June 23, after the paper had gone to press. According to the Health Department, case number 11 is a close contact of another confirmed Stone County case. As a result, the individual has remained at home since their exposure and there are no community exposure risks from them.
The 12th case was reported on Wednesday, June 24. The community was under no exposure risk from this individual, who is reportedly a close contact with an out-of-state positive case.
Case 13 was reported on Saturday, June 27. This individual was exposed to an out of county positive case. During the time between exposure and when they tested positive, this individual only visited locations in Christian County. Reporting from the Christian County Health Department do not specify community exposure related to this Stone County case. However, they do report that potential exposures in that county recently include The Corner Cafe in Clever for an unspecified time, then Walgreens and O’Reilly Auto Parts in Nixa on Tuesday, June 16, all while symptomatic and unmasked. Anyone who visited these locations on that date should closely monitor their symptoms. This is considered a low-risk exposure, with a small chance of spreading to others, but caution is still recommended.
The long-term care resident that tested positive for the virus was reported on Monday, June 29. The specific long-term care facility was not and will not be specified to protect individual privacy rights.
Scientists report one of the best ways to protect from contracting COVID-19, beyond simple social distancing and frequent hand washing, is for most individuals to wear a mask. According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Cloth face coverings are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people.... This recommendation is based on what we know about the role respiratory droplets play in the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, paired with emerging evidence from clinical and laboratory studies that shows cloth face coverings reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth.”
Cloth masks should reach above the nose, below the chin, and completely cover the mouth and nostrils, fit closely to the sides of the face and be made of multiple layers of fabric to stop the spread of droplets.
The health department encourages all residents to take appropriate precautions such as good hand hygiene, wearing a cloth face covering and social distancing. If you are sick, stay home and call your provider, emergency room, urgent care, emergency personnel or health department before seeking medical attention.
For more information about COVID-19, call the Stone County Health Department at 417-357-6134.
Several new cases of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, were reported in Stone County this week, bringing the total to 14. Last week, we reported on cases up to and including the 10th case in Stone County. Since that publication, the Stone County Health Department has reported four more positives, including one at a long-term care facility.
Stone County still remains far behind neighboring counties, however. As of June 30, Barry County reports 47 cases, Lawrence County has 32 reported positives and one death, Christian County has 43 cases and Taney County has 60 cases of the virus, including one death. To our south, Carroll County, Arkansas, has reported 169 positive cases and five deaths from the virus.
The 11th case was reported on Tuesday, June 23, after the paper had gone to press. According to the Health Department, case number 11 is a close contact of another confirmed Stone County case. As a result, the individual has remained at home since their exposure and there are no community exposure risks from them.
The 12th case was reported on Wednesday, June 24. The community was under no exposure risk from this individual, who is reportedly a close contact with an out-of-state positive case.
Case 13 was reported on Saturday, June 27. This individual was exposed to an out of county positive case. During the time between exposure and when they tested positive, this individual only visited locations in Christian County. Reporting from the Christian County Health Department do not specify community exposure related to this Stone County case. However, they do report that potential exposures in that county recently include The Corner Cafe in Clever for an unspecified time, then Walgreens and O’Reilly Auto Parts in Nixa on Tuesday, June 16, all while symptomatic and unmasked. Anyone who visited these locations on that date should closely monitor their symptoms. This is considered a low-risk exposure, with a small chance of spreading to others, but caution is still recommended.
The long-term care resident that tested positive for the virus was reported on Monday, June 29. The specific long-term care facility was not and will not be specified to protect individual privacy rights.
Scientists report one of the best ways to protect from contracting COVID-19, beyond simple social distancing and frequent hand washing, is for most individuals to wear a mask. According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Cloth face coverings are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people.... This recommendation is based on what we know about the role respiratory droplets play in the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, paired with emerging evidence from clinical and laboratory studies that shows cloth face coverings reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth.”
Cloth masks should reach above the nose, below the chin, and completely cover the mouth and nostrils, fit closely to the sides of the face and be made of multiple layers of fabric to stop the spread of droplets.
The health department encourages all residents to take appropriate precautions such as good hand hygiene, wearing a cloth face covering and social distancing. If you are sick, stay home and call your provider, emergency room, urgent care, emergency personnel or health department before seeking medical attention.
For more information about COVID-19, call the Stone County Health Department at 417-357-6134.