Cases still on the rise

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Last week, Perry County reached a new high in concurrent active cases of COVID-19, reaching 24 by Saturday, part of a 53 percent increase in new cases since May 23. As of Wednesday morning, the total number of confirmed cases in Perry County stood at 75, with 56 recoveries, bringing the number of active cases back down to 19. Statewide, 14,913 cases have been reported, along with 840 deaths Perry County Health Department assistant director Liz House said last week the spike was part of a “second wave” of the novel coronavirus. On Tuesday, she said it was too early to determine if the wave had peaked. “When looking at peaks and trends, we have to look at several factors, not just the active number of cases,” House said. “We have to see a downward trend in all of these factors in order to be able to definitively say whether we are past the second peak.” House explained that the method used to determine the progress of the virus considers the number of active cases, but also takes into account the symptom onset date or testing date for asymptomatic individuals. “Keeping in mind it takes 14 days for close contacts of positives to develop symptoms, it is it too soon to tell if we have peaked again,” House said. Last week also saw the first case of COVID-19 linked to Estates of Perryville, a local long-term care facility. Health department director Sylvia Forester said Tuesday that the nursing home has since identified several cases among both residents and employees. “I have been briefed that they finished first round and second round facility-wide testing, meaning all patients and all staff,” Forester said. “Their isolation procedures have been reviewed by the Department of Health and Senior Services and the Perry County Health Department receives update briefings. We are also handling the contact investigations and making recommendations for further testing strategies until every employee and resident tests negative.” Late last month, Gov. Mike Parson extended Phase 1 of his “Show-Me Strong” recovery plan until June 15. As the state moves into Phase 2 and restrictions are further relaxed, Forester said county residents could expect to continue seeing an “ebb and flow” when it comes to cases and outbreaks. “Perry County plans to fall in line with the state’s phased recovery,” Forester said. “I expect more peaks until an effective vaccine is produced and the majority of our population has received it.” Forester added that additional scattered outbreaks are also possible. “Prevention falls on the individual, as well as businesses and organizations, to follow and enforce public health measures of prevention,” Forester said. “People should remain vigilant and respectful of others they encounter and the health department will continue to educate and respond.” During Phase 1, as most businesses, restaurants and bars were allowed to reopen, social distancing requirements were still in effect, but some have been less diligent than others in following them. Forester said the health department, which is responsible for enforcing the governor’s order has received several complaints. “We’ve had multiple complaints regarding a select few businesses in town,” Forester said. “Our environmentalist continues to reach out to them and educate them. I believe the issue is that they are not enforcing the plans they originally had in place.” Forester called these failures “very concerning.” “If a positive case turns up associated with, or that had frequented, a place of business that does not follow guidelines, our investigation is likely to get large and our recommendations for isolation and additional protective measures will likely be stricter as the risk for spread would be greater,” Forester said. And social distancing is likely to remain a factor for some time. “I don’t see social distancing going away,” Forester said. “The concept of ‘6 feet away from others’ is a key component of identifying close contacts in our case investigations, which are prescribed by the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.” Forester explained that if a positive individual is around another person for 10 or more minutes and they are less than 6 feet apart, they are considered a close contact and if the person who is positive is actively coughing or sneezing, there is no time requirement. “We then reach out to close contacts and ask them to self-isolate or wear a mask — depending on their job and social activities — and monitor for symptoms,” Forester said. “Depending on the situation, these asks might be greater.” Part of Parson’s Phase 1 recovery plan relied on expanded testing, something Forester expects to continue, but said that events like the mass testing conducted in Perryville in April won’t be as common. “Testing is still a pillar in Missouri’s response,” Forester said. “Locally, outside of the community testing event we conducted at the end of April, mass testing has been done in response to outbreaks. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Missouri National Guard have been conducting community testing in many counties. I have not heard if Perry County will again receive this opportunity.” Forester added that testing events occurring now in other locations are open to any Missouri resident and that if one of these events should come to a nearby county, the health department would share that information on it’s Facebook page.