During the meeting of the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force on Monday, the Pettis County Health Department reported an increase of 233 new cases of COVID-19 in the past week, bringing the total to 3,908. There has been an increase of 346 case in the past two weeks.

The positivity rate for the week of December 8-16 is 14.43-percent which is an improvement over the 20.25-percent the previous the week. Hospitalizations have decreased, but the county has still had deaths this week.

Pettis County is still considered an Extreme High Risk County. According to the Health Department, the sacrifices made over Thanksgiving are reflected in the county’s decreasing numbers.

The release of the Moderna vaccine in addition to the Pfizer vaccine is an important step toward ending the pandemic and the changes that the pandemic has caused for the community. The Health Department is asking everyone to be patient as they set up schedules for immunizations in the order of the guidelines for those most at risk.

The immunization plan will be by appointment as the process begins. More information will be posted as more vaccine becomes available.