LawCo Reporting 8 New Cases of COVID-19 as of June 22; 11 Cases Now Active

June 23, 2020

As The Vedette was going to press yesterday (Monday, June 22) with this week's edition, the Lawrence County Health Department announced another 8 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 had been found in that county.

The LCHD reports that this brings their total to 18 cases (7 resolved and 11 active). Of the current cases, 3 cases were acquired from workplaces experiencing a current outbreak, 4 are still under investigation to determine the origin, and the other is that of a family member of a positive case. The LCHD said their staff is working diligently to notify all close contacts.

"We want the public to remember that COVID is still actively circulating and our county is not immune. Most people who get COVID-19 will only have mild symptoms; however, there are some members of our community who are at a higher risk of getting very sick," said Janella Spencer, LCHD administrator. "We must each do our part to protect them, ourselves, our loved ones and the rest of our community."

Recommended practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 include:

• Cleaning hands often, either with soap and water for 20 seconds or a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.

• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

• Staying home as much as possible.

• Keeping a distance of at least 6 ft between individuals.

• Covering the mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.

• Covering coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash.

• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces daily.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’s website at bit.ly/about-COVID or contact the Missouri COVID-19 public information hotline at 1-877-435-8411.