COVID Case Count Highest Its Been Since April

The total COVID-19 case count in Adair County climbed to 2,515 with confirmation of five new cases yesterday. There are now 27 active cases, the highest number since April 1st. Cases confirmed yesterday include two 11-year-old females and a 31-year-old female, and males ages 11 and 68. One case is related to a church camp. The health department reports that of the 16 new cases confirmed over three days, only one person had received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. However, that person had received the second dose less than 14 days prior to testing positive and was therefore not fully vaccinated at the time of infection. Health officials recommend that people continue to practice all masking, social distancing, and hand hygiene precautions until they are fully vaccinated which is 14 days after the second dose of the two-dose vaccines or 14 days after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Missouri leads the nation in new cases as the aggressive Delta variant, first identified in India, is prevalent throughout the state. Missouri also lags the national average for vaccination rates. Roughly 44% of the eligible population has started the vaccine course compared to 53% nationwide. Less than 39% have completed both doses. In Adair County, about 35% of the population has initiated the vaccine process and 32% have completed it.