April 19, 2022
Kirksville, MO 4/19/22 – Weekly COVID-19 case counts in Adair County continue to rise with 15 new cases confirmed during the seven-day period from April 12 through 18. That is six more cases than the prior seven-day period. The overall case count is now 6,086.
Note: Our data week has been changed to Tuesday thru Monday to capture a seven day period of new Covid-19 cases including holidays and weekends.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidance regarding when people should get tested for COVID-19, either by visiting their healthcare provider or by taking a home test.
The CDC recommends testing under the following circumstances:
- If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19;
- At least five days after close contact with someone you know to have COVID-19 or suspect they do;
- Before you travel anywhere and when you return home;
- Before you gather with people to reduce the risk of spreading the virus;
- When asked by a healthcare professional or public health official to be tested; and,
- For screening purposes related to congregate settings such as school, work, church, and other gatherings.
The CDC states that if you have had COVID-19 in the last 90 days and have fully recovered, you don’t need to be tested unless you develop new symptoms. Among the symptoms of COVID-19 are cough, fever or chills, muscle or body aches, fatigue, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea. It can be difficult to discern if some of these symptoms are just seasonal colds or allergies, which is why testing is important to reduce the potential for spreading the virus.
The CDC and the Adair County Health Department recommend that all people ages 5 and older get vaccinated against COVID-19 and all those ages 16 and older get vaccinated and boosted to provide ongoing protection against the virus.
The CDC now recommends that those over age 50 and those with certain immunocompromised conditions receive a second booster of either the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine if their first booster was at least four months ago. Those in these categories who received a first then second injection of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should receive either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as a booster. These recommendations are based on scientific research reviewing vaccine status and reported cases during the Delta and first Omicron variant waves. The studies confirm that immunity wanes over time and people most at risk for serious disease benefit from a second mRNA booster after four months.
No vaccines are 100% effective at preventing disease. However, the COVID-19 vaccines are easily accessible, free, and continue to demonstrate that they prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death.
The Health Department will administer first and second doses, and first and second boosters of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine at its clinic located at 1001 South Jamison Street throughout April. Adult clinics are scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26. Pediatric clinics are scheduled from 3 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays, April 21 and 28. Adair County residents should call the Health Department at 660-665-8491 to schedule a vaccine appointment.
