Oregon County Missouri COVID-19 Corona Virus Updates

Oregon County, Mo. – COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) ^[1], “Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats.” The current worldwide outbreak (pandemic) began in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China causing many to give it the moniker of “Wuhan Virus” or “China Virus”.

Oregon County, Missouri COVID-19 Data ^[2]

State of Missouri COVID-19 Data ^[3]

Why Now? What is Happening?

Pandemics occur because people have no immunity to the virus. It never existed before (or in this generation’s lifetime) so there is no resistance to it among the human population of the world. The CDC has stated that, “This is the first pandemic known to be caused by a new coronavirus.” and further affirmed, “In the past century, there have been four pandemics caused by the emergence of new influenza viruses.”

As a result, according to the CDC, “most research and guidance around pandemics is specific to influenza, but the same premises can be applied to the current COVID-19 pandemic.”

CDC Recommended Steps To Avoid COVID-19 ^[4]

• On March 16, the White House announced a program called “15 Days to Slow the Spread,”pdf iconexternal icon which is a nationwide effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 through the implementation of social distancing at all levels of society.
• Older people and people with severe chronic conditions should take special precautions because they are at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness.
• If you are a healthcare provider, use your judgment to determine if a patient has signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and whether the patient should be tested. Factors to consider in addition to clinical symptoms may include:
  • Does the patient have recent travel from an affected area?
  • Has the patient been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 or with patients with pneumonia of unknown cause?
  • Does the patient reside in an area where there has been community spread of COVID-19?
• If you are a healthcare provider or a public health responder caring for a COVID-19 patient, please take care of yourself and follow recommended infection control procedures.
• People who get a fever or cough should consider whether they might have COVID-19, depending on where they live, their travel history or other exposures. More than half of the U.S. is seeing some level of community spread of COVID-19. Testing for COVID-19 may be accessed through medical providers or public health departments, but there is no treatment for this virus. Most people have mild illness and are able to recover at home without medical care. 
• For people who are ill with COVID-19, but are not sick enough to be hospitalized, please follow CDC guidance on how to reduce the risk of spreading your illness to others. People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness.
• If you have been in China or another affected area or have been exposed to someone sick with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, you will face some limitations on your movement and activity. Please follow instructions during this time. Your cooperation is integral to the ongoing public health response to try to slow spread of this virus.