Several health departments in the area are limiting public services due to the rapid surge in the number of COVID-19 cases, which is stressing local resources.
Last Friday the Phelps-Maries Health …
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Several health departments in the area are limiting public services due to the rapid surge in the number of COVID-19 cases, which is stressing local resources.
Last Friday the Phelps-Maries Health Department stated it will be closed to walk-in clients and services for the next two weeks. The department said vital records and TB tests will be done curb-side.
Department staff will continue to work on case investigations and contact tracing.
Staff members said the high call volume of persons requesting test results is slowing down their work. The department said test results do not come from the health department. Persons who have been tested for the virus will get their test results from their medical provider or from the testing location.
Health department staff is working 12 hours, seven days per week doing case investigations. They plan to reopen to the public on Nov. 23.
On Nov. 4 the department said the surging number of Covid-19 cases, 73 on that day, has surpassed the ability of the department’s staff to conduct case investigations and contact tracing within 24 hours. Priority case investigation and contact tracing will shift to maintain compliance with the state’s contact tracing order.
The department asks persons who are pending a test result or who have received a positive test result for the Covid-19 coronavirus, to isolate away from other people. Notify any individuals that they may have been within six feet of for more than 15 minutes for the 48 hours prior to symptom onset. Persons who are notified they have been a direct contact need to quarantine for 14 days from the date of the last exposure. These persons are asked to not go to work, school, or places of public accommodation to help mintage the spread of the virus.
In nearby Gasconade County, the health department stated it would close for a few days or until further notice due to the rapidly increasing number of Covid cases causing stress on local resources.
Callaway County also closed its health department last Friday until further notice. Pettis County closed its routine public health services until further notice while staff concentrates on the Covid problem.
