KIRX News

Seven new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed among Adair County residents since last Friday. Total cases year to date now stand at 158 with 30 people currently in isolation. Five of the seven new cases are the result of community spread. Those involve women age 66 and 36, and men age 38, 40 and 63. The other two cases involve a 34-year-old female and a 34-year-old male who are employees of area meat-processing plants.

The Macon County Health Department announced two new cases of COVID-19 from over the weekend. The county has reported 62 positive cases with 6 of those being active positive cases.

Due to the increase of covid 19 cases in Knox county, the Knox Co. Nursing Home- Edina will not be having outside visits. Window visits and video visits are still available. Knox County added 1 new COVID-19 case yesterday, but also released three more people from isolation. There are 16 active cases and 33 total confirmed cases.

A COVID clinic is now open at Scotland County Hospital. An alternative screening site has been established in the former International Eyecare Center location in the Annex Building on the hospital/clinic campus
in Memphis. Officials from Scotland County Hospital & Clinics say they are utilizing the newly established Covid Care Clinic to evaluate and test patients for Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses. The clinic will provide respiratory care to patients who need to see a clinician but aren’t sick enough to go to the
emergency room or require hospitalization.

Elizabeth Guffey, Chief Nursing Officer, says the Covid Clinic expands their clinical capacity to meet the needs of the patients being screened and evaluated for Covid -19, while alleviating some of the pressures of the emergency department and clinics so patients can get the right level of care.

Census takers have started going door-to-door for the 2020 Census in Kirksville. If no one is home when the census taker visits, they will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to take the census by mail, by phone, or online.

The body of a missing Monroe City woman was found this weekend and charges have been filed. An Endangered Person Advisory was issued Thursday, August 6th for 32-year-old Amanda K. Johnston, after Monroe City Police found evidence that her apartment had been burglarized and that she may have the victim of foul play. According to Troop B of the Missouri Highway Patrol, on Saturday, investigators found the remains of Johnston in northern Pike County. Authorities announced formal charges have been filed against 2 Monroe City residents. 29-year-old Jerry B. Asbell Jr., has been charged with murder 1st degree & armed criminal action. 37-year-old Jessica M. Ellsworth, is charged with felony tampering with evidence. Troop B’s Highway Patrol Sergeant Eric Brown says an autopsy will be performed at a later date.

Five new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday brings the total number of cases year to date in Adair County to 151. The five cases involve a 36-year-old female and a 65-year-old male infected by community spread, a 46-year-old male infected while traveling outside of Adair County, and two male employees of an area meat-processing plant, a 23-year-old and a 27-year-old. The median age of all cases in Adair County to date is 30.5 years. There are 24 current active cases.

The Sullivan County Health Department announced three additional positive cases of COVID-19 in the county Friday afternoon.

Knox County added 4 new positive cases of COVID-19 Saturday, and 1 new case yesterday, bringing their total to 32. Knox County released one from isolation, has 18 active cases, and 3 people hospitalized.

Lewis County Health Department announced their second COVID-19 death yesterday – a resident in their 70s. The health department also announced 2 new cases for 47 total. There are 20 active cases.

Seven new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed yesterday among Adair County residents. This brings the year-to-date total to 146. The number of people now in isolation has risen to 19. Of the seven new cases, one is a 24-year-old female infected by community spread. The other six are all employees of area meat-packing plants. They include a 49-year-old female and men ages 47, 36, 33, 41, and 37.

New COVID-19 cases were reported in other Northeast Missouri counties yesterday.

The Macon County Health Department announced one new positive case. The person was infected at a job outside the county. There are 7 active cases.

Knox County added 3 new positive cases, and has a total of 19 active confirmed cases.

Sullivan County reported two additional positive cases.

Two Schuyler County residents were recently infected with COVID-19 after attending a memorial service at Schuyler County Church of Faith in Lancaster July 31st.

Jim LeBaron, administrator of the Adair County Health Department, warns that now is the most critical time for us to take precautions because this is the most difficult time to control the spread. LeBaron says Truman students are returning from areas that are hotspots, kids are getting ready to go back to school, people are taking summer vacations, and nearly all businesses are fully reopened. LeBaron urges people to stay vigilant by wearing masks, socially distancing, washing hands or using hand sanitizer, avoiding large groups of people, opting for outdoor rather than indoor activities outside of their homes.

Kirksville Parks and Recreation is making final preparations for the first ever Kid’s Mini Mud Mile Obstacle Run. Due to the large number of registrations, “age group waves” will be used to reduce congestion and allow for a more socially distanced event tomorrow. See the age groups, and designated times for both arrival and race start online. Find the link at facebook.com/KirksvilleParksandRecreation/

The state’s annual Back to School Sales Tax Holiday is underway. Today through Sunday, August 9th, certain purchases, such as clothing, school supplies, computers, and other items as defined by the statute, are exempt from sales tax during the School Sales Tax Holiday. Find more information about what is exempt from sales tax and item price limits on the Missouri Department of Revenue’s website.

dor.mo.gov/business/sales/taxholiday/school/consumers.php