News Staff

Adair County surpassed 1,900 COVID-19 cases over the weekend. Seventeen new cases were confirmed on Friday, two new cases on Saturday and five more yesterday bringing the county’s total case count to 1,903. There are 93 active cases, 1,795 people who have left isolation and 15 COVID-related deaths. 7 of Friday’s cases reside at addresses with at least one other case. There was one case each in the K-12 schools and higher education sectors. Three of the seven new cases reported Saturday and Sunday reside at addresses with at least one other confirmed case.

To kick off Missouri’s 200th birthday of officially becoming a state, Governor Mike Parson will be sworn into office today with a celebration of a Bicentennial Inauguration. Governor Parson will be sworn in for his first full term as governor, as well as Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick – only Ashcroft had been elected to his position before November 2020.

The ceremony’s events will start at approximately 11 a.m. on the south lawn of the Capitol. Following the inauguration ceremony, the committee will release information about future inaugural events, such as the traditional inaugural ball and parade, in conjunction with Missouri’s bicentennial celebrations later in the year. August 10, 2021, will mark the 200th anniversary of Missouri’s entry as the 24th state of the United States.

There will be bus delays for some Kirksville R-III students. The district announced that due to unforeseen circumstances, busses R-14 and R-1 will run “delayed” during this week. Under the delayed schedule, R-1 and R-14 will only run the HARD SURFACE ROUTE pick-up/drop-off location stops. ALL other busses will run their full routes on normal schedule unless Hard Surface/Snow Routes are determined. See more details on the Kirksville R-III website.

Adair County’s COVID-related death toll reached 15 yesterday with confirmation of two more deaths: A 63-year-old female who had been on a ventilator at University Hospital in
Columbia since November 20th and a 75-year-old male admitted to Northeast Regional Medical Center on December 25th and placed on a ventilator on January 1st both passed away yesterday.

The Adair County Health Department also confirmed 18 new cases, raising the total to 1,880. There are now 104 active cases and 1,761 people who have left isolation. A 42- year-old female, whose case was among those reported Wednesday, was also admitted to Northeast Regional on January 6th.

The new cases include six people who reside at addresses with at least one other confirmed case. Three are in the K-12 schools sector and one is in the higher education sector.

There was a peaceful ending to a standoff yesterday morning in Kirksville. The police department has released details about the event that unfolded at approximately 1:37 am when the Adair County E911 Center received multiple 911 calls from a 29-year-old male stating he planned to harm police officers and himself. It was determined the male was calling from a residence in the 900 block of East McPherson Street. Police had previously attempted to locate man in reference to valid warrants for his arrest.

Kirksville Officers were able to negotiate with the man by phone and after about four-and-a-half hours convinced him to surrender. His identity is not being released at this time and medical/mental health services are being provided to him.

KPD thanks those that contributed to the successful outcome of the situation, including the affected residents in the area. The Police Department was assisted by the Adair County Sheriff’s Department, Truman State University Police Department, and Adair County Ambulance District.

Another 31 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed yesterday by the Adair County Health Department, bringing the overall count to 1,862. Two cases reported Tuesday were removed upon confirmation that they reside outside of Adair County. Those cases include a 26-year-old female from Macon County and a 33-year-old female from Schuyler County. There are now 127 active cases, 1,722 people who have left isolation, and 13 COVID-related deaths. Of the new cases, there are four each in the K-12 schools and skilled nursing facility sectors. Sixteen reside at addresses with at least one other confirmed case.

The health department also reported that as of yesterday’s press release, nearly 1,000 of the 1,100 people slated to receive the second dose of the COVID vaccine have been registered for next week’s drive-through clinic.

Missouri leaders denounced events in the nation’s capitol yesterday when rioters supporting President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. Senator. Roy Blunt, called the violence shameful. Congressman Sam Graves called the violence and lawlessness unacceptable and un-American. The entire Congress was forced to flee after the mob rushed into the building to stop the certification of the Electoral College vote. It took hours for police to clear the building. Last night, Congress resumed the certification of the presidential election.

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.