County now first in testing positivity rate

A recent spike of positive COVID-19 cases has Perry County tops in the state in terms of cases per 100,000 residents and the seven-day positivity rate.
In the past seven days, Perry County has had a reported 22 new cases, which translates to 115 cases per 100,000 residents, the highest rate in the state. The total new case number of 22 ranks 81st statewide.
In addition, there is a reported seven-day positivity rate of 17.39 percent in Perry County, also the highest rate in the state.
Nearby Bollinger County (12.00, percent, fourth) is also in the top five in terms of positive rate, though Cape Girardeau (7.87 percent), Madison (9.02 percent), St. Francois (5.07 percent) and Ste. Genevieve (3.51 percent) counties are not seeing positivity rates in the same vicinity as Perry County.
As of Monday, May 3, there were 34 active cases in the county and the seven-day rolling average was 3.4, according to assistant director Liz House. “We look at the seven-day rolling average, which was 3.4 as of Monday morning.”
The latest 10-day rolling average was 3.3 cases, according to House.
Forester said variant forms have entered the region. In addition, isolated outbreaks have led to a recent increase in the total number of positive cases.
“We have had a confirmed positive case of a variant of concern, and have had two additional variants of concern of the virus detected in the city’s sewer shed results,” Forester said. “These variants of concern are labeled as such by the CDC due to several possible attributes including increased transmission rates. We have also seen a few isolated outbreaks. COVID-19 is still a threat and a communicable disease we continue to fight against.”
For those seeking a COVID-19 test, several options are available.

“For those needing a COVID-19 test, we refer individuals to their local provider or to free testing locations,” Forester said.
The state of Missouri has free testing in Cape Girardeau at the Red Show Barn, 410 Kiwanis Drive from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 16, June 6, and June 20. There are also several state testing locations that offer free testing in the St. Louis area every Monday, Thursday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is no fee and no pre-registration required at these State testing locations.”
Testing details
A total of 2,150 confirmed polymerase chain reaction cases have been conducted since the pandemic began. There were nine new cases April 27, the highest single daily total since Feb. 1. The highest single-day total of new PCR cases was Nov. 9, when there were a reported 74
A total of 30 confirmed deaths have been reported since the pandemic began in 2020.
There have been six reported deaths since Jan. 1, 2021 with the last one coming March 19.
Since December 2020, there have been just two days in which the total PCR tests were 100 or more.
A total of 18,191 PCR tests have been conducted on county residents since the pandemic began, though the daily total has been fewer than 100 since Feb. 15 (109).
Another form is the antigen test, which includes 5,288 tests so far, though this type was used minimal through at least mid-November, with the total number at 10 or fewer per day until November 19 (60 tests).