Covid cases climb, putting Ozark County’s increase rate in state’s top 10 again

Missouri has had 1,332 new cases of covid statewide in the last week, indicating a 12 percent increase. The state now has had 104,079 residents who have tested positive for covid this year. 

Nine additional deaths recently occurred in Missouri residents who tested positive for active covid virus, bringing the statewide total to 1,714. As of Monday night, 1,010 Missouri residents had been hospitalized in connection with covid-19.

 

Ozark County, 30 percent increase

On Monday evening, Ozark County was listed on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services covid-19 dashboard as one of the top 10 counties with the highest seven-day increase in cases. The Ozark County Health Department confirmed Monday that the total number of positive cases in Ozark County residents had grown to 96, an increase of 29 positive cases since last week. 

The sharp uptick means the county’s covid count has grown 30 percent in the last seven days. OCHD staff members were unable to say how many Ozark County residents are hospitalized due to the virus, but it is believed that at least one resident is currently hospitalized. In the OCHD’s last Facebook update on Sept. 11, it said about half the total cases were currently active, meaning those cases were within their quarantine period. No official covid deaths have been reported here. 

 

Douglas County, 10 percent increase

Douglas County, north of Ozark County, has had an increase of 16 cases in the last week, indicating a 10 percent increase. According to the Douglas County covid-19 dashboard, two main age groups have had the most cases, age 70-79 and age 10-19. Both groups account for between 20 to 30 cases each in Douglas County.

Residents in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 80s, account for between 10 and 20 cases. Children age 0 to 9 account for under five cases there. 

Exposure type is primarily by close contact, with 88 patients presumed to have contracted the virus that way. Eight cases were travel-related, and the rest were derived from an unknown exposure source. 

Three Douglas County residents have tested positive for active covid infection at the time of their death.

 

Howell County, 21 percent increase

Howell County, east of Ozark County, had an increase of 90 cases in the last week, totaling 432 positive cases and indicating a 21 percent increase. According to the Howell County Health Department, over 4,600 tests have been conducted there. Six Howell County residents are hospitalized. Three Howell County residents have tested positive for active covid infection at the time of their death.

 

Taney County, 8 percent increase

Taney County, west of Ozark County, had an increase of 89 cases in the last week, totaling 1,053 total positive case and indicating an 8 percent increase. Twenty-two Taney County residents have tested positive for active covid infection at the time of their death.

 

Baxter County, Arkansas

Baxter County, Arkansas, to the south of Ozark County, had an increase of 32 cases in the last week, totaling 187 cases and indicating a 17 percent increase. One Baxter County resident tested positive for active covid infection at the time of his or her death. 

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423