Ten More Cases Bring The Count To 35
July 15, 2020

Isaac Estes-Jones
The Stone County Health Department (SCHD) reported on Tuesday, July 14, that the total count of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in the county has grown to 35. Several new potential public exposures were also reported.
There were two releases of information from the Stone County Health Department. On Monday, July 13, SCHD shared that five individuals were confirmed positive. Of those five, two were exposed to positive cases in Stone County, one was exposed to a known positive COVID-19 case from out of state and two were cases of community exposure. Of the next five, reported after noon on Tuesday, July 14, two were exposed to known Stone County positive patients while the remaining three are cases of community exposure. Community exposures are those cases where contact tracing cannot readily determine where the individuals were exposed to the virus.
At least one of these new cases traveled during their contagious period. The health department is reporting possible public exposures at the Kimberling City Post Office on Monday, June 29, at around 1 p.m. The individual was masked. Also on Monday, June 29, a contagious individual visited the Branson West Walmart at 1:30 p.m. while wearing a mask. The final public exposures were at Silver Dollar City on Wednesday and Thursday, July 8 and 9, for the whole day the park was open. Again, the contagious individual was wearing a mask.
Additional possible exposures reported Tuesday are a Stone County case ate at Tequila’s in Branson West around 12 noon on Wednesday, July 8. The individual was not wearing a mask. On Tuesday, July 7, a positive case went to the Branson West Walmart at around 6:20 p.m. They were wearing a mask.
There was one further possible public exposure on Tuesday, July 7. On that day, an out of county individual who has since tested positive visited Silver Dollar City for the whole day. They were again reportedly masked for the duration. Silver Dollar City was also the site of two other out-of-county exposures. On Thursday, July 2, a sick individual visited the theme park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. while wearing a mask. There is also a possible community exposure at Silver Dollar City from Sunday, July 5, where a positive case was in attendance from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., also masked per SDC requirements.
Stone County’s positive COVID cases are far below the numbers seen in the counties immediately surrounding. According to the state’s online COVID dashboard, Barry County has 101 confirmed cases, including hospitalizations as reported by the Barry County Health Department on July 9. Taney County reports 126 cases; Christian County, 77; Lawrence County, 60; and Carroll County, Arkansas, 230 cases.
The Missouri online COVID-19 dashboard does not reflect the totals for Stone and Barry Counties as reported by their respective health departments. The reason for this delay is unknown. As of Tuesday, July 14, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports 28,826 total cases in the state since the beginning of the outbreak, resulting in 1,093 deaths.
The Stone County Health Department (SCHD) reported on Tuesday, July 14, that the total count of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in the county has grown to 35. Several new potential public exposures were also reported.
There were two releases of information from the Stone County Health Department. On Monday, July 13, SCHD shared that five individuals were confirmed positive. Of those five, two were exposed to positive cases in Stone County, one was exposed to a known positive COVID-19 case from out of state and two were cases of community exposure. Of the next five, reported after noon on Tuesday, July 14, two were exposed to known Stone County positive patients while the remaining three are cases of community exposure. Community exposures are those cases where contact tracing cannot readily determine where the individuals were exposed to the virus.
At least one of these new cases traveled during their contagious period. The health department is reporting possible public exposures at the Kimberling City Post Office on Monday, June 29, at around 1 p.m. The individual was masked. Also on Monday, June 29, a contagious individual visited the Branson West Walmart at 1:30 p.m. while wearing a mask. The final public exposures were at Silver Dollar City on Wednesday and Thursday, July 8 and 9, for the whole day the park was open. Again, the contagious individual was wearing a mask.
Additional possible exposures reported Tuesday are a Stone County case ate at Tequila’s in Branson West around 12 noon on Wednesday, July 8. The individual was not wearing a mask. On Tuesday, July 7, a positive case went to the Branson West Walmart at around 6:20 p.m. They were wearing a mask.
There was one further possible public exposure on Tuesday, July 7. On that day, an out of county individual who has since tested positive visited Silver Dollar City for the whole day. They were again reportedly masked for the duration. Silver Dollar City was also the site of two other out-of-county exposures. On Thursday, July 2, a sick individual visited the theme park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. while wearing a mask. There is also a possible community exposure at Silver Dollar City from Sunday, July 5, where a positive case was in attendance from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., also masked per SDC requirements.
Stone County’s positive COVID cases are far below the numbers seen in the counties immediately surrounding. According to the state’s online COVID dashboard, Barry County has 101 confirmed cases, including hospitalizations as reported by the Barry County Health Department on July 9. Taney County reports 126 cases; Christian County, 77; Lawrence County, 60; and Carroll County, Arkansas, 230 cases.
The Missouri online COVID-19 dashboard does not reflect the totals for Stone and Barry Counties as reported by their respective health departments. The reason for this delay is unknown. As of Tuesday, July 14, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports 28,826 total cases in the state since the beginning of the outbreak, resulting in 1,093 deaths.