Local News – Friday, May 15th, 2020

Dent County Health Center Administrator Kendra Mobray reports that the Health Center has confirmed its first positive case of COVID-19 in Dent County Wednesday night. The patient’s identity will remain confidential, and they have been notified that they have tested positive for COVID-19. The Health Center is working with this individual to insure they are following Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines in regards to isolation. The Health Center worked with this individual to identify close contacts in order to monitor them for symptoms and contain the spread and the Dent County Health Center nurses have spoken to those close contacts. If you are identified as a potentially exposed person, you will be contacted by the Dent County Health Center as they are taking necessary precautions to keep our patients and community safe and will continue to diligently monitor the COVID-19 situation and follow CDC guidelines to help protect the public health and limit spread of this infection. Mobray has released a number of locations where potential COVID-19 exposure occurred in the community as part of the Dent County Health Center’s duty to protect the public’s health. The person who tested positive was at these locations on the days and dates indicated. On Friday May 8th, they were at the Salem Country Mart from approximately 10:30 to 11:00 in the morning, then they were at the Salem Wal-Mart from about 11:00 until 12:00 noon. Also on Friday, they were at the Salem Pizza Inn between 5:00 and 6:00 in the afternoon. This person was also in attendance at the Salem Main Street Cafe on Tuesday, May 12th from approximately 11:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon. People at these locations on these dates below are at low risk for contracting COVID-19, but should monitor for symptoms. There is no need to self-quarantine or isolate unless symptoms develop. Mobray says it is important that each and every one of us continue to practice basic preventative measures to help decrease the spread. These measures, as outlined by the CDC, include: avoiding contact with people who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, proper hand-washing, cleaning frequently used surfaces, and staying home when sick. The Health Center highly encourage you to call your healthcare provider before seeking care if you suspect that you have COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

According to the CDC, people with COVID-19 can have a wide range of symptoms that can range from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19. Those symptoms are cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, a new loss of taste or smell, and some less common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. This list is not all inclusive. If you think you or someone you know has COVID-19 symptoms, call your doctor about your symptoms and getting tested. If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 like trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in your chest, or bluish lips or face, get medical attention immediately!

The Salem Senior Class of 2020 will be having a parade this tonight starting at 7:00 which was to be their graduating exercise. The parade route will begin at Center Street & Iron Mountain Road where the graduating seniors will travel to East Fourth Street and travel west to MacArthur, shifting to West Third Street and concluding at the High School on Tiger Pride Drive. Everyone in the community is encouraged to show your support of the 2020 Senior Class. Feel free to set up your chairs on the sidewalks or celebrate these young people’s achievement from your vehicles while maintaining social distancing measures.

Missouri State Parks have announced the phased reopening of campgrounds as a part of its continued efforts to return to normal operations in conjunction with Governor Mike Parson’s “Show Me Strong” Recovery Plan. Missouri State Parks campgrounds will reopen to accommodate existing campground reservations starting at 3:00 in the afternoon on Monday, May 18th. In addition, new reservations will be accepted starting on Monday for arrival dates beginning Tuesday, May 26th. First-come, first-served camping will no longer be available at most state park campgrounds. Missouri State Parks will also be instituting a number of changes related to campground operations to better facilitate appropriate social distancing and improve the safety of operations for Missouri State Parks’ guests and staff. The changes include reservations will be required prior to arrival, campground occupancy will be limited at some parks and sites, Missouri State Parks will increase the frequency of cleaning shower houses and restrooms, campers will use a new no contact self-check-in feature, there will be occupancy restrictions in shower houses and restrooms, and Missouri State Parks will only accept credit and debit cards. Missouri State Parks staff will be available at the park or historic site to answer any questions. Missouri State Park beaches will open to the public on Thursday, May 21st, with visitors expected to practice social distancing. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. If you have questions regarding Missouri State Parks, please e-mail moparks@dnr.mo.gov.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Department has released the following reports. On Sunday, May 10th, deputies responded to a residence in the 200 block of Route H for a report of a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that a 37-year-old Salem woman was the reported victim. A Missouri 12-hour rule was invoked and deputies transported the woman to a residence in Salem. Also on the 10th, deputies responded to a residence in the 1700 block of West Scenic Rivers Blvd. for a report of a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that a 56-year-old woman was the reported victim. During the course of the investigation, a 54-year-old Salem man was arrested for domestic assault in the 2nd degree. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and incarcerated. Please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 729-3241 if you have any information about an ongoing investigation.