Online Update: Lawrence County Confirms 3 More COVID-19 Cases; Total Now 40, 21 Active

July 02, 2020

The Lawrence County Health Department announced a further 3 new cases yesterday evening, July 1. Of these new cases, one individual has already been isolating at home for quite some time, and an exposure link could not be determined. The other cases are individuals in a common household, and the exposure link remains under investigation.

With the addition of these 3 cases, Lawrence County has now had 40 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 18 that have recovered and a single death.

On Sunday, June 28, one of the cases was not symptomatic, but was wearing a mask, while attending worship services at the Church of the Nazarene in Monett from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The church has been notified and have stated that they will be suspending services for two weeks beginning Sunday, July 5. Those who attended services on June 28, do not yet need to quarantine, but should monitor themselves for symptoms. If symptoms arise, stay home and contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Older adults and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions are at higher risk of the more serious complications from COVID-19. Anyone who feels they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and then develops the following symptoms: Fever or chills; cough; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; fatigue; muscle or body aches; headache; new loss of taste or smell; sore throat; congested or runny nose; nausea or vomiting; and or diarrhea; should contact their health provider for medical advice, before even making any in-person contacts.

There are also some emergency warning signs for COVID-19; if someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately: trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish coloration of the lips and/or face.

Recommended preventive actions include:

Wearing a mask in public and/or at work.

Avoiding large social gatherings where social distancing is difficult to achieve.

Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

Avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Washing hands often, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds -- or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

Cover coughs or sneezes in the crook of the arm, or in a tissue, then wash hands.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning sprays or wipes.

Stay home if feeling sick.

The LCHD said CoxHealth is also still offering virtual visits at https://www.coxhealth.com/services/virtualvisits/.com.