By Echo Menges
Sullivan County, Missouri – December 14, 2020 – The Sullivan County Health Department (SCHD) reported a high COVID-19 positivity rate on Monday morning. Countywide, 29.5 percent of those being tested have been positive for the virus. The SCHD is using the Center for Disease Control (CDC) method for determining the positivity rate over a 7-day period and reporting additional cases as they are received.
Last week, SCHD reported two additional COVID-19 deaths of Sullivan County residents, which brought the total number of deaths due to the virus to ten, along with 23 additional positive test results from Dec. 6 to 13 with a positivity rate of 24.5 through Dec. 13.
This week, five more positive cases were reported Monday along with the heightened positivity rate.
The SCHD declined to release any more information about the recent fatalities but did extend a message of condolences to the families of the deceased.
“Currently Sullivan County sits at a total of six hundred and eighty-eight, with one active probable case, ten deaths, and thirty-two (32) active cases. The positive cases have been determined to be community related,” the SCHD stated in a press release sent to The Milan Standard on Monday.
The health department is continuing to conduct contact tracing for individuals who have tested positive. Those determined to have been in close contact with a positive individual will be contacted and informed about recommended quarantine measures.
They are asking the community to continue to monitor for symptoms, see a health care provider for testing if any arise and, if emergency services are required, to inform the dispatcher that symptoms are present so first responders can be informed.
