The number of COVID-19 cases in Maries County continues its uptick as the most recent report from the Phelps-Maries Health Department stated there have been 31 persons infected with the coronavirus.

Of the 31, six were reported as active, and 25 were released from isolation. There were three hospitalizations. In Belle, a 64-year-old female was hospitalized and five persons were released from isolation. In Brinktown a 19-year-old female was reported as an active case. In Dixon/Hayden area, a 34-year-old female and 36-year-old male were reported active and seven persons were released from isolation. In the St. James area, one person was released from isolation. In Vichy there was a 48-year-old male reported active and two people were released from isolation. In Vienna a 41-year-old male had an active case of the virus, a 61-year-old female and an 83-year-old male were hospitalized and seven persons were released from isolation.

The health department is requesting more information from those who are tested for the virus as they need current contact information of phone number and address to ensure they can contact people as soon as possible if their test result is positive.

“Unfortunately we are encountering situations where the contact information on the lab report is incorrect or altogether missing. Attempting to obtain current contact information from the healthcare provider and/or lab is proving time consuming and often times the information is not available. Please call us at (573) 458-6010 if you receive a positive COVID-19 diagnosis and have not been contacted by health department staff within 24 hours.”

In neighboring Phelps County there has had an increase of 23 cases in a week. The health department said they are seeing entire households becoming positive during their quarantine periods.

“Several cases are reporting unknown exposure location with no recent travel history or contact with known positive cases. These cases are presumed community transmission. It is best to assume that every location you visit is a location of potential exposure and take the appropriate precautions to protect yourself, your family, and your community. It is critical that each and every one of us continues to practice preventative measures to help keep the spread of communicable diseases to a minimum. It is the utmost importance that any individual experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 isolate from others.”

The health department has been receiving questions about case counts and the incoming Missouri S&T students. If any Missouri S&T student becomes positive for the virus, the student will count as a Phelps County case. The physical location of an individual is used to determine jurisdictional control of the communicable disease case.