KIRX News

The COVID-19 case count in Adair County continues to rise. Yesterday, the Adair County Health Department confirmed 36 new cases since Friday, bringing the total case count to 2,888. There are 114 active cases and 2,747 people who
have left isolation. One of the new cases is employed at an area meat processing plant and 17 cases reside at addresses with at least one other confirmed case. The CDC continues to encourage those ages 12 and older to get vaccinated to slow the rapid spread of the Delta variant. In the State of Missouri, 42.1% are fully vaccinated. In Adair County, just 34% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated. Nationwide, 49% of people are fully vaccinated.

Today marks the two hundredth anniversary of Missouri as the 24th state to enter the United States. A state with many different regional cultures, geographies, and industries, each Missouri community, county, and region has a story to tell about its people, their history, their commerce, and their culture. A live stream of the formal ceremony from the front steps of the Missouri State Capitol starts at 9AM and can be watched at facebook.com/Missouri2021/

Governor Mike Parson announced Friday that Missouri is tripling the number of mutual aid ambulances that provide long-haul patient transfers to help reduce the rising COVID-19 caseloads straining hospitals. Thirty ambulances and more than 60 trained personnel are arriving in five regions of the state – including Region B, northeast Missouri. The new ambulance strike teams, provided in response to a request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, include 20 advanced life-support ambulances, five basic life-support ambulances, five specialty care ambulances, and required medical and support personnel. They began transporting patients over the weekend. The teams are tasked with operating anywhere there is a critical need in Missouri through September 5th. Governor Parson stressed that vaccination is the best way to prevent serious illness from COVID-19, and slow down the spread of the aggressive and transmissible delta variant.

The Adair County Health Department confirmed 14 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, raising the overall case total to 2,852. The county recorded 93 new cases over seven days. There are 104 active cases and 2,721 people who have left isolation. One of the new cases is a resident in a skilled nursing facility.

Nearly all of Missouri, including Adair County, remain in the high-risk category for COVID-19 transmission. The health department says this means the order temporarily halting evictions issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention applies to Adair County residents as of now. Information about the eviction moratorium can be found at the CDC website.

The Kirksville City Council will hold a study session this evening. The agenda includes the tax levy report, pet registration, tethering of dogs, the risk management report, census and redistricting, and more. The session starts at 6PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

COVID-related deaths now stand at 27 in Adair County. A previously reported 96-year-old female died Wednesday after being released from Boone Hospital to hospice care. She was admitted to Boone July 28. The health department also reported that yesterday’s one day total of 27 new COVID cases reached a high that had not been seen since January. The active case total of 107 is also a number not seen since January.

Other counties in Northeast Missouri are also seeing higher numbers. The Sullivan County Health Department added 5 new COVID-19 cases yesterday for 47 total active cases.

Macon County Health Officials say 63 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the last week. There are currently 65 active cases with 2 hospitalizations.

The Sullivan County Health Department, and The Samaritan Hospital in Macon hosted vaccination clinics yesterday.

The Knox County Health Department will hold another vaccination clinic Monday August 9, 2021 from 2p to 6p. Pfizer will be the vaccine, it is available to anyone 12 and up. Call so they can have a dose ready for you you: 660-397-3396!

Missouri’s annual back-to-school sales tax holiday runs today through midnight Sunday, August 8th. During this time certain back-to-school purchases such as school supplies, computers, clothing and other qualifying items are exempt from state sales tax. In addition to the state sales tax, local sales tax will also be waived in the cities, counties and special tax districts that choose to participate. Assistant City Manager Ashley Young encourages you to shop Kirksville for the back-to-school sales tax holiday as shopping local helps the community and those who depend on the local economy.

The Adair County Health Department yesterday confirmed the death of a 69-year-old female whose COVID-19 case was reported July 19th. She was admitted to Hannibal Regional Hospital July 22 and passed away on July 31. There have now been 26 COVID-related deaths among Adair County residents.

The Health Department also confirmed 12 new cases yesterday. None are vaccinated. Five reside at an address with at least one other confirmed case. One case is an employee at a skilled nursing facility. Total case count is now 2,811 with 93 active cases.

The Sullivan County Health Department reported 9 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. All are determined to be community related. That brings the current active case count in the county to 51.

A couple of boil orders were issued yesterday for Adair County and Sullivan County Public Water Supply District #1, due to a broken water main. In Adair County, a 48-hour boil order was issued for PWSD 1 customers who live on Route O, west of Novinger – from the Novinger city limits west 3 miles to Ridgetop Road. In Sullivan County a precautionary boil advisory is in effect until further notice for Sullivan Rural Water customers on Highway H from the intersection of Highway H and Ivan Drive to Highway FF, including Indian Drive, and Owls News Trail.

The Kirksville City Council considering implementing some kind of a campaign to encourage more residents to get vaccinated. City leaders are also working with the medical community to help educate residents about the availability and safety of the vaccines. As of yesterday, the percentage of the population vaccinated with at least one dose is is 37.46%, and the number of people fully vaccinated is 33.79%. Statewide, 41.95% of people are fully vaccinated.