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Eight More Die of COVID-19 in Greene County

Eight More Die of COVID-19 in Greene County

Eight More Die of COVID-19 in Greene County

Eight more people have died of COVID-19 in Greene County.

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department says one person did not have underlying health conditions.

Three patients were in their 70s, three were in their 80s, and two were in their 90s.

Following is a press release from the Springfield Greene County Health Department:

Data estimates from the CDC show that COVID-19 is on track to becoming the third leading cause of death in the United States for 2020, behind heart disease and cancer, assuming mortality trends for heart disease and cancer continue. This is based on the CDC’s latest leading causes of death figures from 2014 to 2017. On Tuesday, September 22, the United States surpassed 200,000 COVID-19 deaths.

COVID-19 affects all segments of the population in different ways. Although older adults and people of any age with underlying health conditions may have more severe illness, no one is immune from the effects of this virus. We owe it to each other to faithfully practice watching our distance, wearing our masks, washing our hands and staying home when we are sick.

CoxHealth, the Greene County Medical Society and Mercy Springfield discussed the impact COVID-19 has had on individuals at Tuesday’s Council lunch session. You can view the entire COVID-19 discussion with our healthcare partners here at the 37 minute and 30 second mark: https://bit.ly/330JEic.

Who is at risk

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified some groups as at higher risk for severe health outcomes from COVID-19 as opposed to others.     

Those populations include older adults and individuals with conditions that affect their heart, lungs, kidneys or immune system. This includes but is not limited to: cancer, chronic kidney disease, lung disease, obesity, serious heart conditions and diabetes.

Other populations that may be at higher risk for severe symptoms include people who smoke, have asthma, are pregnant or have high blood pressure.

Many in our community have these underlying health issues that could potentially put them at greater risk for COVID-19—for instance, 16% of Greene County residents are 65 or older; 33% are considered obese; and 11% have asthma.

Long-term care in Greene County

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department has worked closely alongside the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and with local long-term care facilities to assist with testing, secure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and to provide guidance on best practices for disease prevention and containment in an institutional setting.

While it is ultimately DHSS that has the regulatory authority, responsibility and oversight of communicable disease containment in long-term care setting, local public health departments are a partner in serving as a liaison to support the state’s disease prevention strategy. This strategy includes facility-wide testing of staff and residents after a positive test of either a resident or staff, and repeated testing until there are no additional cases.

Long-term care facilities are required to report a positive case among staff or residents to DHSS within 24 hours so guidance can be provided on comprehensive testing, isolation and quarantine instructions, personal protective equipment and staffing. State guidance for long-term care facilities can be found here.

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