Positive COVID-19 cases are on a downward trend, the Cole County health director told county commissioners Tuesday.
"Last week, Capital Region Health Center had 20 COVID patients, and this week they have 14," Health Director Kristi Campbell said. "St. Mary's has also sent information that their COVID numbers were trending down."
Campbell said this was particularly good news as it comes at the same time local schools have started classes for the year.
"When we met with school officials last week, they had 60 kids in quarantine. But none of it was from exposure at the school; it was all from household/home exposure, which is what we saw last year," Campbell said. "There was very little COVID transmission in the schools last year. It was from household exposure because that's where you'll have the close contact issues."
Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Hoelscher emphasized the health department provides information and guidance to the school districts on COVID-19 matters, but the school boards for each district have the final say on what type of COVID-19 precautions their schools will take.
Campbell agreed.
"We have no authority over the schools, and they are each an autonomous board," she said. "So what we did this summer was develop guidelines that the schools could look at for various scenarios they might be facing. It took into account what is happening in the community and what is happening in the school. The actions could include not having assemblies, not allowing outside visitors or having kids wear masks. But the final decision on what to do comes from the school boards.
"We (the health department) cannot tell the schools what to do," she added.
Campbell said residents do need to realize that COVID numbers will "wax and wane."
"We'll have outbreaks and then the levels will go back down again, even if everyone gets vaccinated," Campbell added. "The other day we got 22 cases in, and 10 were vaccinated individuals. We're getting plenty of breakthrough cases, some of which have died."
Campbell said they are working with local physicians about getting a list together of supplements and vitamins you should take if you're diagnosed with COVID-19. This is after a doctor in Macon County put out a list and the health department put it on their Facebook Page for people to see.
"Four of our local physicians are working on a list they would endorse," Campbell said. The four represent Community Health Center, Jefferson City Medical Group, St. Mary's and Capital Region. Campbell said she hopes that it will be out this week.