During the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force meeting on Monday, September 20, it was reported an increase of 133 positive cases occurred in the past week and 258 cases in the past two weeks.

The Department of Health and Senior Service’s website reports Pettis County as having a positivity rate of 10.7 percent for the past seven days, which is a decrease from 13.1 percent for the last week with PCR testing.

According to a press release, the group with the highest number of new cases was reported as 35 to 39-year-olds with 16 cases, followed by five to 12-year-olds with a total of 15 positive cases; 30 to 34-year-olds had 13 recorded cases; and 13 to 18-year-olds with 11.

There were 36 individuals from birth to 18-years-old with positive cases reported in the time period. Since July 1, 20.88 percent or 347 of total cases are in individuals 0 to 18 years of age.

The Health Center says there are 15 individuals hospitalized at Bothwell as compared to 16 last week – two patients on a ventilator as compared to one last week.

Health officials say all inpatients will be tested upon admission to the health center. The DHSS website now reports 94 deaths in Pettis County up from 92 last week. Reducing the number of COVID patients in the hospital is very important to have critical resources available for non-COVID cases.