Though active cases of coronavirus in Moniteau County have declined from the more than 90 recorded at the beginning of September, the Moniteau County Health Center reported four more COVID deaths Friday.
Two of the deaths were recorded in the month of August, while the other pair was recorded in September. One individual was in their 60s, two were in their 80s, and one was in their 90s. There have been 41 total deaths due to COVID-19 in Moniteau County since the start of the pandemic.
Active cases as of press time sit at 41, representative of a gradual decline in cases since the beginning of the month. The decline coincides with a bump in the percentage of fully-vaccinated individuals in Moniteau County's population, which is now around 30.20 percent. The case decline follows a month of August that saw Moniteau County add more than 350 new cases to the count. To date, there have been 2,671 total cases recorded among Moniteau County residents.
The community transmission status, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is still classified as "high," per the data available on the Health Center's COVID dashboard. Though the county's seven-day positivity rate has dropped a tier to "substantial" at just less than 10 percent, the number of seven-day new cases still remains slightly above 100. In a Friday post providing updates about transmission levels, the Health Center said the county's transmission status will be re-evaluated again today.
The Health Center continues to offer opportunities for vaccinations, including Wednesday and Friday of this week from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Patrons are asked to avoid coming between 12-1 p.m., as there is not always a nurse available to provide vaccines during that window. Vaccines are available for anyone 12 and older. Those interested can call to schedule an appointment at 573-796-3412, but walk-ins are also accepted.