Twenty COVID-19 cases in 24 hours in Greene County, including six from nursing home

(From the Springfield-Greene County Health Department)

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department has seen 20 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the past 24 hours.

Six of our new cases include staff and residents of Wilson’s Creek Nursing and Rehab at 3403 W. Mt. Vernon.

Four residents and two staff tested positive. The facility had a symptomatic patient they tested, and when a positive result came back, they moved to test every patient and staff member in the facility.

“The patients are currently in isolation and have been since their positive test result at the facility and staff members are quarantined at home following guidance from the CDC to reduce the risk of exposure to others,” stated Michael Huffman, administrator of Wilson’s Creek Nursing and Rehab.

Six other cases are from a traveling construction crew. One individual knew they had been exposed to other cases out of state, and the whole crew sought testing. Some tests of these crew members are still pending.

Of these 20 new cases, none represent clients from the Great Clips exposures. To date, we have received 45 negative test results from this group. We are encouraged by this news, and believe it is solid evidence of the value and protective nature of masking.

On Wednesday, our Mobile Testing Site saw its busiest day with 138 tests given.

The Heath Department is also notifying the public of several new potential exposures:

• Thursday, May 21: Walmart Supercenter at 3520 W. Sunshine sometime in the afternoon, no specific time given (symptomatic, not masked)

• Thursday, May 21: Petsway at 1717 W. Kearney around 6 p.m. (infectious but didn’t show symptoms, not masked)

• Thursday, May 21: Price Cutter at 1831 W. Kearney around 5 p.m. (infectious but didn’t show symptoms, not masked)

• Friday, May 22: Walmart Neighborhood Market at 3536 W. Mt. Vernon around 4 p.m. (infectious but didn’t show symptoms, not masked)

• Sunday, May 24: Walmart Supercenter at 3315 S. Campbell around 3 p.m. (infectious but didn’t show symptoms, not masked)

A timeline of known potential community exposures in the past 14 days is available here.

Archived video of this announcement as well as past COVID-19 news, is available at: https://cityview.springfieldmo.gov/

As we take steps to reopen our community, it is even more important for all of us to interact with our environment carefully. If we do get sick, we should stay home.

COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It spreads between people who are in close contact with one another.

Anyone who was at any of these locations on these dates is at low risk for contracting COVID-19, but should monitor for symptoms. There is no need to self-quarantine or isolate unless symptoms develop.

The CDC recently updated its list of COVID-19 related symptoms, which now include:

• Fever or chills

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue

• Muscle or body aches

• Headache

• New loss of taste or smell

• Sore throat

• Congestion or runny nose

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

If symptoms do develop, seek medical attention.

If you are sick, you can use virtual care options to seek medical treatment without exposing others to illness. Links are available at?health.springfieldmo.gov/coronavirus

For more information about COVID-19, visit our website at health.springfieldmo.gov/coronavirus, email coronavirus@springfieldmo.gov, or call 417-874-1211.