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The number of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Perry County has increased by more than 33 percent in the past week, rising to a reported total of 31 on Tuesday afternoon.
Perry County Health Department director Sylvia Forester said this kind of increase could be attributed to both continued testing and community spread among individuals.
“As we’ve said since the beginning — more tests will result in more positives,” Forester said. “We are seeing more numbers of unknown contact — these are individuals whose infection cannot be traced back to another positive individual, or an event such as travel. This is very indicative of community spread.”
With each new case and corresponding investigation, Forester said, more contacts and organizations are identified as being at risk. When this happens, individuals who are deemed close contacts and who have symptoms, even if just mildly, typically get approved for testing and many times are found to be positive.
This drives up the count.
Forester also praised the testing clinic opened last month at Perry County Memorial Hospital for helping to identify infected persons.
“Our hospital has done a great job at testing to help identify individuals, including those who may not meet typical COVID-19 profiles,” Forester said.
According to numbers obtained from PCMH, the hospital has tested 132 individuals since March 12. Of those, 19 tested positive for the virus, while 70 tests returned negative results. Of those tested from March 31-April 6, 35 were male and 28 were female. Six female subjects and one male tested positive. Those tested ranged in age from toddlers to late 80s.
Determining the total number of county residents who have been tested is problematic, since those tested aren’t required to do so in Perry County.
On Tuesday afternoon, the county health department reported three additional confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 31, while the number of reported recoveries rose to eight.
The 50-59 age group continues to be the hardest hit, with nine cases now reported, followed by 30-39 with seven. The 30-39 age group and the 40-49 age group have five each.
Most of the confirmed cases continue to be women, who outnumber men 20-11.
Statewide, the number of infected persons continues to rise. On Tuesday afternoon, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported a total of 3,037 cases, with 53 deaths reported, up nearly 20 from Sunday’s report. Nationwide, the numbers continue to rise, with nearly 400,000 cases reported as of Wednesday morning and 13,000 deaths. More than 20,000 people have reportedly recovered.
Forester said the stay-at-home orders issued last month by the Perry County Commission, and last week by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson should have a positive effect — at least if people follow the rules.
“If Perry County had not enacted the stay at home order as they did, our future numbers would be worse,” Forester said. “The numbers we have been seeing are representations of spread weeks ago. We won’t see the true effects of the county and state stay-at-home orders until another few weeks have passed.
As an example, Forester offered the story of a positive case who worked at a non-essential business that closed upon the issuance of the county order.
“If the order had not started when it did, that individual may have still been at work and possibly infected many people,” Forester said. “This is just one of many scenarios we are seeing and how these orders are helping to flatten the curve and prevent more spread.”
In addition, Forester said county residents should focus more on staying at home and maintaining social distancing rather than focusing on how many people attend a gatherings.
“Right now, I believe people need to stop focusing on the magic number ‘10,’” Forester said. “Just because you are in a group of 10 or less does not keep you safe and does not mean you are doing the right thing. Your risk of exposure is still there, whether it be because you are closer than 6 feet apart, or because you are sharing commonly touched surfaces such as a doorknob or refrigerator handle.
“So, if you’re still getting together with family and friends, but think it’s okay because you are keeping it to groups of 10 or less — it’s not. Only a home unit should be in that kind of close contact.”
Forester said her team of public health nurses is busy.
“COVID-19 doesn’t take a day off,” Forester said. “We have gotten calls and results all hours of the day and night, and all days of the week.”
The health department has three public health nurses who do a majority of the contact investigations and follow-ups, Forester said. In addition, PCHD assistant director Liz House has a background in epidemiology, the health department’s emergency planner has been collecting and gathering data and its environmentalist has been in constant contact with restaurants, grocery stores, and daycare facilities providing them with the latest guidance and answering their questions.
“The entire Perry County Health Department staff has a role to play with our COVID-19 response,” Forester said. “We definitely have a great team.”
Naturally, all that work can be draining.
“We are not immune to the stress and anxiety our nation as a whole is feeling,” Forester said. “However, as public health professionals, this is what we are here for. This is a public health crisis and we are responding as we have been trained to. We each take breaks and days off when we can and when needed. We are very aware of the importance of our role and I think that helps us get through our tougher days — just knowing that we are doing our part to save lives.”
