News Staff

Kirksville’s mask mandate continues. During this week’s City Council Meeting, Mayor Zac Burden called it a good health procedure that prevents COVID-19 cases from going higher. City leaders also said they want to see what happens to local COVID numbers following the holiday. The council is revisiting the mask mandate on a monthly basis. The county and city-wide mask mandates were implemented in late November. The health ordinance establishes fines to be assessed for violations about refusing to wear masks, and refusing to quarantine.

The Adair County Health Department confirmed 19 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. There have now been 1,833 confirmed cases with 111 currently active and 1,709 people who have left isolation. Thirteen residents have died from COVID-related complications. Of the new cases, five are in households with at least one other confirmed case and two are in the K-12 schools sector.
A 75-year-old male admitted to Northeast Regional Medical Center on Christmas Day was placed on a ventilator on January 1st. An 85-year-old female also admitted on December 25 was discharged on January 4th.

Macon County is seeing reinfections of COVID-19. In a press release yesterday, the Health Department said they are starting to see cases where people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past are getting it again. Health officials are reminding residents that if you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past, you should continue to take precautions especially after your 90 days of immunity. The health department says they are unsure at this time how hard it impacts the health of those that are reinfected.

You’ll want to check your calendar for recycling collection. RTS Waste Services, LLC – the City’s waste services provider, has provided a corrected 2021 calendar for recycling collection, glass recycling collection, and holidays without trash or recycling pick up. The corrected 2021 calendar can be found on the city’s website at: www.kirksvillecity.com/trash. The calendar that was mailed to City utility customers on the back page of the January 2021 edition of the Kirksville Connection is incorrect. The corrected calendar will be mailed to City utility customers as part of the February 2021 edition of the Kirksville Connection. For more information, contact Public Information at 660.627.1224.

A Kirksville woman is recovering after a crash in Callaway County Friday morning. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, 31-year-old Mary M. Eells, was driving on a county road when she travelled off the right side of the roadway and struck an embankment. Eells was transported by Callaway County EMS to University Hospital with moderate injuries.

Here’s the latest for those needing to register for their second COVID-19 vaccine dose. The Adair County Health Department is fielding a lot of calls from people who received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in December. Jim LeBaron, administrator of the health department, said yesterday was the first day of registration and by noon they’d completed scheduling for more than 150 individuals. To accommodate the heavy call volume, two phone lines have been set up exclusively to field calls for registration: 660-730-6100 or 660-730-6200 weekdays during the hours of 8AM-5PM. LeBaron said to keep trying even if the line is busy. He asks everyone to be patient and says those who received the first dose will get a second dose – you just need to register a time slot on the appropriate date and the health department will be assisting with that all week.

Those who received the first dose on Dec. 21, 2020 must receive their second dose on Jan. 11, 2021. Those who received the first dose on Dec. 23, 2020 must receive their second dose on Jan. 13, 2021. They

With 25 new COVID-19 cases confirmed by the Adair County Health Department over the three-day holiday weekend and another 24 cases confirmed yesterday, the total case count has risen to 1,814. The County also recorded its 12th and 13th COVID-related deaths. There are currently 109 active cases and 1,692 people who have left isolation. The deaths involve an 85-year-old male who had been hospitalized at the VA Hospital in Columbia. A 71-year-old male died on Jan. 2, one day after testing positive for COVID-19.

Adair County closed out 2020 with 1,764 COVID-19 cases, 104 active cases, 1,649 people who left isolation and 11 COVID-related deaths. There were a total of 55 hospitalizations. As of December 31st, there were eight active cases currently hospitalized. Five are at Northeast Regional Medical Center, one at University Hospital, one at the VA Hospital in Columbia, and one at Barnes Jewish in St. Louis. One patient among the eight is on a ventilator.

It’s time for some to get another vaccine shot. The Adair County Health Department will be administering the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to the people who received the initial dose in December. The second dose is required to boost the efficacy of the vaccine. Those who received the first dose on December 21st must receive their second dose on January 11th. Those who received the first dose on December 23rd must receive their second dose on January 13th. Everyone getting the 2nd dose must pre-register and schedule a time by calling the Health Department at 660-730-6100 or 660-730-6200 during business hours. Upon verification of their first dose and completion of registration, participants will be given a unique registration code that must be provided prior to vaccine administration.

A New Year’s Eve fire in downtown Macon left a business damaged along with apartments above. The Macon Fire Department responded to the building on fire at 118 N. Rollins Street just before 9PM on Thursday. The fire was brought under control in approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. The occupants were not home at the time of the fire. There was extensive fire damage to the residential area of the building with smoke and water damage to the business below. There was also smoke and water damage to one adjoining building. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Macon Fire Department was assisted by the Macon Rural Fire Department, Bevier Fire Protection District, Macon County Ambulance District, Macon Police Department, and the Macon Municipal Utilities.