Osage County Health Department Nurse Kim Sallin on Tuesday said a total of 988 positive COVID-19 cases have been reported, with 145 currently active, and she said it’s fast becoming a dire situation.
“We are seeing a lot more positive cases involving younger children,” said Sallin. “It’s still affecting the elderly as well, but it’s very concerning that we have more kids getting sick. The thinking has been that this virus didn’t impact them but that’s not proving to be the case.”
One case, Sallin said, involved a 3-year-old child, and she noted that several daycare classes have recently been quarantined.
Fortunately, transmission has not occurred at a high rate in the classroom, as schools have taken precautions.
Based on guidance from Gov. Mike Parson, the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Linn R-2 and Fatima R-3 have enacted a mask mandate, which should help lower the number of quarantines. Their stories are presented separately in this week’s issue. Chamois R-1, meanwhile, reported last week that it would take steps to implement the changes required as the school has had a mask mandate in place.
Gov. Parson’s recommendation states that students in grades 7-12 who are within six feet of one another will have to wear a mask but under modifications to Missouri’s K-12 school reopening and operating guidance stipulate that proper mask-wearing may now prevent individuals from being identified as close contacts in K-12 schools that have implemented a mask mandate.
This means that if both individuals at school – the person diagnosed with COVID-19 and the person exposed to the positive case – have masks on and are wearing them correctly, the individual exposed does not need to quarantine.
Initially, the guidance allowed students to attend school but did not require students to quarantine outside of school.
“I didn’t agree with that,” said Sallin. “I took a position in my conversation with school officials and said that the county’s guidelines would state that students are not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities during a 14-day quarantine. Basically, they would be allowed to attend school and take tests with their peers, but not take part in sports, practices, or club activities. I think it’s important to make that distinction. I was glad to see DHSS and DESE reverse their position later.”
A draft of Advisory #4 was signed Thursday. Sallin noted that under the new advisory, there will be limits on public gatherings, basically taking the county back to the first advisory. Meetings will be limited to a maximum attendance of 10, and rooms are reduced to 25% occupancy for public gatherings. The advisory is effective Nov. 18 through Dec. 31.
Sallin said she recommends that large gatherings be avoided during the Thanksgiving holiday, specifically, that people not gather with those who do not live in their household.
“It saddens me that people will miss out on family time but right now, the numbers are growing exponentially in this county,” she said. “It’s a really bad time to have large gatherings.”
Instead, Sallin suggested families find creative ways to get together. “If you can do it outside, that would be okay,” she said. “Some families are doing drive-by gatherings, where they stay outside and visit for a bit and then go home. I know it’s not ideal, but if I have to give up Thanksgiving and Christmas for the benefit of my family and those around me, I’m willing to do that. Everyone is responsible for their actions.”
There have been four deaths as a result of the virus.