Jefferson County is again in the red status on the Jefferson County Health Department’s COVID-19 warning system. Red is the highest level on the four-color system and indicates high transmission of the virus within the community.
Last week the Health Department changed its color system, and the new four-color system starts with blue instead of green. Like the old four-color system, the next highest level is yellow, then orange and finally red.
The main indicator of the color status is the total number of cases in a seven-day period per 100,000 people.
The number of cases per 100,000 people for the week of July 18 to July 24 was 165.33.
“Our new cases increased 20 percent over the (previous) seven days, and the percent positivity is the highest we have seen since January of this year,” Health Department epidemiologist Sara Wilton said. “The highest percent increase in cases came from our 0-9- and 10-19-year age groups.”
For the week of July 18 to July 24, 14.7 percent of COVID-19 tests were positive, which also indicates the county is in the red status.
Blue represents low transmission of the coronavirus, with 0 to 9.99 new cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days and 0 to 4.99 percent positive tests in the last week. Yellow means moderate transmission of the virus, with 10-49.99 new cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days and 5 to 7.99 percent positive tests in the last week. Orange means substantial transmission, with 50 to 99.99 new cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days and 8 to 9.99 percent positive tests in the last week. Red means high transmission, with more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days and more than 10.0 percent positive tests in the last week.
Health Department Director Kelley Vollmar said the agency’s new color change matches the CDC’s new color system.
“We are bringing ourselves into alignment with the rest of our region, as well as the system that the schools are going to be looking at,” she said.
CDC issues new recommendations
The CDC announced today (July 28) that it recommends everyone, even those who are fully vaccinated, wear a mask indoors in areas where there are high transmission rates and low vaccination rates, and both Jefferson County and the state of Missouri as a whole meet those criteria.
As of today, 31.1 percent of Jefferson County residents have completed their COVID-19 vaccinations, the Health Department reported.
Parson visit
Gov. Mike Parson tweeted today that he is unhappy with the new recommendation.
“It’s disappointing because it is inconsistent with the overwhelming evidence surrounding the efficacy of the vaccines and their proven results,” he tweeted. “It only serves to disrupt the increases we are seeing in vaccine uptake. This self-inflicted setback encourages skepticism and vaccine hesitancy at a time when the goal is to prevent serious illnesses and deaths from COVID-19 through vaccination.”
Parson was in Kimmswick today as part of his tour across the state to celebrate Missouri’s bicentennial, and during his stop in the county, he encouraged people to get vaccinated.
“I think we have to talk to Missourians directly and cut through all of the clutter to just give people the facts,” he said. “If Missourians get the facts, they are going to make the right decisions. I don’t think sending a message out with mandates, shutdowns and trying to encourage mass vaccines will work. Missouri is just not going to do that.”
Parson said the state has invested $5 million in a campaign encouraging people to get the vaccine.
Parson suggests those who have not been vaccinated find facts about vaccines from people they trust.
“I think you encourage people to talk to their doctors or people in the healthcare industry who they trust,” he said. “They should talk to their clergy, people in their community who they have faith in and they trust. They shouldn’t listen to the national media and all of the politicians. They need to find someone they trust in the healthcare arena and ask them about it, and I think they will make the right decision after that.”
Vaccines
The Health Department urges people to continue taking steps to limit the spread of the virus, including getting the vaccine and wearing masks.
People may sign up for a vaccine appointment through the Health Department by going to the state vaccine Navigator website at covidvaccine.mo.gov/navigator/. Or, they may call 877-435-8411.
Comtrea, which also offers health care services around the county, provides vaccines, too. To make an appointment, go to comtrea.org/vaccine, or call 636-232-2308.
To sign up for a vaccine with Mercy, go to mercy.net/MOVaccine. Those without internet access may call 833-364-6777.
SSM Health has an online vaccine appointment site at ssmhealth.com/access/covid19-vaccine-scheduling.
Other hospital systems and pharmacies also are registering people for the vaccines. To find a local vaccine site, visit vaccinefinder.org.
