Jefferson County has been moved up to the orange, or highest, level on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) three-color COVID-19 warning system.
Prior to that recent change, the county had been in the yellow, or medium, level for one week and in the green, or lowest, level of the system for 12 weeks.
Brianne Zwiener, Jefferson County Health Department public information officer, said she was not shocked to see the county move into the orange level, since St. Louis and St. Louis County recently moved to that level.
“The high level just raises the amount of precautions and preventative measures that the CDC recommends within a community,” she said.
Zwiener said she recommends everyone wears a mask indoors and on public transportation.
“Continue making sure that you're getting tested if you're feeling symptomatic and that you're staying home if you're feeling symptomatic,” she said.
The Health Department reported that the county had about 692 active COVID-19 cases as of today, June 10.
The county has had a total of 55,591 coronavirus cases and a total of 548 COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to the Health Department dashboard.
Zwiener said no new COVID-19-related deaths were reported this week.
She said the best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is to get the vaccines and booster dosses.
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. Or, to find another local vaccine site, visit vaccinefinder.org.
