The most current seven days of statistics posted by the Franklin County Health Department shows 60 new positive tests for COVID-19 in the county.
On Wednesday, July 15, there were nine new cases, Thursday 12 more were added, seven on Friday, Saturday saw 11 new cases, Sunday there were 20 and Monday had 12.
There have been 180 new cases reported in the county since July 1.
The Tuesday morning update from Abe Cook, Director of Franklin County Emergency Management Agency, noted that two people had been removed from the positive case count “ due to updated information from our FC Health Department.”
Monday’s figures show a total of 386 positive cases have been reported. Of those, 157 are currently active.
The number of positive cases in long-term care facilities is now up to 21. There are 136 positive cases elsewhere in the county.
211 people have been declared recovered from the virus while 18 died from it.
There is one person hospitalized with thedisease in a Franklin County hospital. Statistics are not kept for county residents who are in hospitals in other areas, such as St. Louis, fighting the disease.
Gerald, Leslie and Beaufort statistics continue to be lumped together in one column. Sifting through the daily reports shows two active cases in the Gerald area. There are seven cases in Leslie that have not recovered and three in Beaufort.
These increasing numbers put a strain on contact tracers.
For example, an outdoor barbecue party was attended by about 20 people a couple of weekends ago. It took place in the rural Beaufort-Leslie area. A few days later one of the attendees tested positive. Since he had shaken hands, slapped the backs or hugged almost everyone there, all of the attendees had to be notified. With a lapse of four or more days before being notified, each attendee had come in contact with scores of others, including some who are elderly or otherwise health-compromised.
Limiting social contact and wearing a mask when around others is the only way to slow the spread of the virus and take the strain off the system.
Across the state, there have been 5,048 new cases reported in the last seven days and 40 deaths. The state counts 34,762 total positive. cases and 1,143 deaths.
