Health Department Director Updates Local Officials On Coronavirus Situation

With flooding predicted this year, coronavirus spreading globally and tornadoes flattening parts of a neighboring state, the Ste. Genevieve County Commission is making funds more immediately available to emergency management director Felix Meyer.

The commission voted last Thursday to move $10,000 from the county’s general revenue fund to the emergency management budget, giving Meyer immediate access in emergency situations without having to seek approval.

The commissioners also received an update at the meeting from Sandra Bell, executive director of the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department. She said her department had ordered coronavirus test kits, which would go to the Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital emergency room.

“A very limited number of kits are being distributed.” she said.

Bell said the county is also on a waiting list for gloves, hand sanitizer and other items dealing with the disease.

Bell emphasized that people cannot merely run to the hospital or their doctor and demand a coronavirus test.

“They need to call a physician and discuss their symptoms with their doctor first,” Bell said. “If the doctor believes they need testing, he must contact the [Missouri] Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).”

No tests may be given without the state agency’s authorization.

As of the meeting last Thursday, there had been no cases detected in Missouri, out of about 100 people tested.

See complete story in the March 11 edition of the Herald.