COVID Hotspot Advisory Issued for Clark, Lewis, Marion Counties
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has issued a COVID-19 Hotspot Advisory for a portion of northeast Missouri.
DHSS officials issued the advisory for Clark, Lewis and Marion counties along with the surrounding area, which also takes in Knox, Adair and Ralls counties.
In the two week period running through August 17th, officials report 45 new COVID cases in Clark County, 81 in Lewis County and 252 in Marion County.
They blame the delta variant as the reason for the elevated numbers.
Officials also point out that vaccination rates stand at around 23 percent in Clark and Lewis counties, and just shy of 34 percent in Marion County.
DHSS says the COVID vaccine remains the best way to keep the disease from spreading, and points out that everyone age 12 and older is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
Area health departments reported another 121 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday.
103 of those cases were reported in Adams County, along with one new COVID related death. Officials report 53 hospitalized, ten in ICU and now 133 deaths. The seven-day positivity rates went up slightly to eight percent.
The other 18 new coronavirus cases were reported in Marion County. Their case total is now 4,773, with 164 active, 14 hospitalized and 89 deaths. Officials also report 114 breakthrough infections since June 1st.