Osage County Health Department Administrator Susan Long on Tuesday said the county continues to be inundated with COVID-related cases, noting that she estimates there have now been approximately 270, with about 60 of them still active.

“We just got 400 new charts in a week ago and went through them in less than a week,” said Long.

She added that numerous cases are being referred to the department daily, and while she has added another nurse and two more contract-tracing employees, it’s been a challenge.

“Contact investigation has been pretty intense,” Long said. “I’m also asking people to wear a mask if outside their own house or yard.”

Updates will be posted at http://www.osagecountyhd.org and the health department’s Facebook page.

Procedures set for county buildings due to COVID-19

Osage County Health Department Administrator Susan Long and commissioners last Tuesday signed an order outlining procedures for county buildings, effective Monday, Oct. 12, which will require the public and staff to wear a face-covering upon entering all buildings.

“This is a preventative measure designed to reduce the spread of the coronavirus,” said Long. “We have people coming into the annex building for voting and soon it will be time to pay taxes and we’d like to encourage people to use the dropbox into the collector’s office.”

In the Annex Building, the front door will be locked and the public will need to enter the side door and go out the front door. The county will be put marks on the floors to help with social distancing.

Employees may still use the entrance and exit they normally use as they have a key.

There will be a sign posted on the doors letting people know that if they don’t have a mask to wear in, they must call the health department and one will be provided to them for the Annex Building.

Masks will also be provided for those entering the courthouse without one.

Long asked that business be conducted by phone, fax, email, or online when possible. Anyone who needs to visit a county building is asked to refrain if they are sick with a fever, cough, shortness of breath or if they have been told to quarantine or self-isolate.

For more information, visit www.osagecountygov.com or the Osage County Health Department on Facebook.