The Jefferson County Health Department (JCHD) has been notified of three positive tests for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the county. The residents are a male in his 60’s and two females, one in her 60’s and one in her 70’s. One case is contact based and the other two are still under investigation.
Jefferson County Public Health Preparedness team members have already started case investigations and notifications regarding these cases.
“We are not surprised that there is a case in our county because of the spread of COVID-19 in surrounding counties,” states Director, Kelley Vollmar. “We have been preparing for this situation and we are confident in our ability to respond effectively.”
Jefferson County Health Department encourages the community to follow preventative measures to prevent the spread of germs including:
1. Wash your hands with soap and water or 60% alcohol-based sanitizer
2. Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes with unwashed hands
3. Cover your cough/sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve
4. Practice social distancing, avoid close contact with others
5. Stay home if you are sick
6. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
If you are experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath contact your healthcare provider or Mercy Clinical Support line at 314-251-0500. “It is important that residents experiencing symptoms contact their healthcare provider prior to showing up so that proper screening can take place to start the testing process,” states Public Health Preparedness Coordinator, Jeana Vidacak.
“We continue to stress the importance of preventative measures such as staying at home except for essential tasks, social distancing and proper handwashing,” states Director, Kelley Vollmar. “It is the responsible actions of our friends and neighbors now that are going to make a huge difference in the health impact this will have on our community.”
Jefferson County Health Department continues to follow CDC guidelines to protect public health and limit the spread of infection. For more information about COVID-19, please visit www.jeffcohealth.org/coronavirus-covid19.