The McDonald County Health Department reported that five new cases of covid-19 were identified last week -- the lowest increase in over a month.
Officials also reported that 13.1% of county residents have received their first doses of the vaccine and 10.1% of residents are fully vaccinated. Reports indicate that 37.4% of Missouri residents have received their first doses and 27.8% of Missouri residents are fully vaccinated.
An additional 81 vaccines were administered this week, bringing the total vaccination count to 5,317.
As of publication, the total number of positive cases is 2,612. A total of 2,557 individuals have been released from isolation, leaving 55 still isolated and one individual hospitalized.
A Pfizer vaccine clinic will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 6 at the Goodman Community Building for those aged 16 and older. An additional Pfizer clinic will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 10 at the Pineville Community Center for those aged 16 and older.
Ozarks Community Hospital and the Health Department are partnering to provide a vaccine clinic from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 8. A drive-through clinic will be available at the Noel Primary School and a walk-up clinic will be available at OCH in Noel.
You must be preregistered on the Health Department's list in order to receive an appointment for vaccination. To preregister, call 417-223-4351, ext. 317, and follow the prompts. Your name will be added to the list and you will receive a call with more details before the scheduled clinic.
On Monday, May 3, McDonald County School District announced that three students are currently testing positive for covid-19, with 21 students excluded from school as a result.
No data was released regarding the school(s) of the quarantined students or staff.
The Health Department is no longer able to continue free testing for the uninsured. All area clinics will continue to provide testing at a cost.
Health Department personnel will continue to focus on contact tracing and distributing covid vaccinations in phases.
McDonald County Health Department officials continue to encourage the public to wear masks and social distance.
Updates on the vaccine and plans for distribution will continue to be shared online.
Phase 3 of the multitiered vaccination schedule was activated on Friday, April 9, and allows all Missouri residents access to the vaccine.
Health department officials remind the public that two doses of the vaccine are required and should be administered 28 days apart.
It is important that patients return for the second dose to develop the highest level of protection from SARS-CoV-2. Patients who do not receive the second vaccination at 28 days should still receive the second dose as soon as possible thereafter.
According to the CDC, fully vaccinated people can:
• Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing;
• Visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe covid-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing;
• Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic.
For now, fully vaccinated people should continue to:
• Take precautions in public like wearing a well-fitted mask and physical distancing;
• Wear masks, practice physical distancing, and adhere to other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people who are at increased risk for severe covid-19 disease or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe covid-19 disease;
• Wear masks, maintain physical distance, and practice other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households;
• Avoid medium- and large-sized in-person gatherings;
• Get tested if experiencing covid-19 symptoms;
• Follow guidance issued by individual employers;
• Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations.