The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), the Henry County Health Center and Golden Valley Memorial Hospital announce a Henry County resident has tested presumptively positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This case is one of those reported on Friday, March 13, by Governor Mike Parson during a news conference.
According to a news release, the patient was hospitalized at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton prior to being transferred on March 8 to another facility- where a specimen was collected for testing and the patient currently remains.
The specimen, tested by the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory, has been forwarded to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) laboratory.
Local health-department officials are identifying close contacts to monitor for symptoms and contain the spread.
Golden Valley Memorial Hospital is being placed on diversion for emergency services and has been advised to not admit new patients. While awaiting confirmation of test results from the CDC, the Henry County Health Center will treat this presumptive case as positive and follow CDC guidelines to protect public health. As part of this ongoing public health investigation, patients and visitors to the hospital will be contacted by public health officials as available information warrants.
Administrator of the Henry County Health Center Peggy Bowles said they are working closely with the state partners as well as the local hospital to quickly identify and respond to anyone who may need to self-isolate due to close contact with this individual. It is vital that we act quickly with protective measures.
DHSS has tested a total of 94 individuals statewide for COVID-19, as of Friday. Ninety of the individuals tested negative.
Director of DHSS Dr. Randall Williams said they are committed to assisting the local partners in Henry County through this process. He said it is very important that anyone identified as a close contact of this patient follow necessary precautions to limit any potential spread of infection.