Callaway County reports 6th COVID-19 death

Callaway County reported its sixth COVID-19 death Friday, Oct. 16, 2020.
Callaway County reported its sixth COVID-19 death Friday, Oct. 16, 2020.

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Callaway County reported its third COVID-19 death in nine days - and sixth overall - Friday.

As with previous COVID-19 deaths, the Callaway County Health Department did not release any additional information about the deceased.

Callaway County's fifth death attributed to COVID-19 was announced Tuesday; the fourth Oct. 7.

The Health Department encouraged residents to take precautions, noting the county's number of active COVID-19 cases is on the rise.

Callaway County breached 200 active cases for the first time Tuesday and, as of Friday, has remained above that threshold ever since. The CCHD reported 237 active cases as of Friday.

"Please keep the appropriate 6-foot physical distance from others whenever possible, wear a mask when it is not possible for you to distance yourself," the department wrote. "Again, it is highly recommended that anyone who can do so get a flu shot this year."

Callaway County does not currently require mask-wearing. Nor does the city of Fulton, which reported 36 active cases Thursday. That figure does not include a positive case at William Woods University, two cases at Westminster College or 96 active cases at the Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center (87 among inmates and nine among staff).

According to the Health Department's Friday update, 966 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Callaway County this year, and 723 have recovered so far. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services puts the number of total cases slightly higher, at 974 as of Thursday.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may 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, or diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website at health.mo.gov/coronavirus or the CDC website at cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Missouri operates a statewide COVID-19 hotline at 877-435-8411 from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. seven days a week.